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Best states for a cosmetology instructor
Quoted expert
Dr. Carrie Kondor
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like cosmetology instructors are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for cosmetology instructors aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. As cosmetology instructors are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for cosmetology instructors. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a cosmetology instructor, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
New York is the best state for jobs for cosmetology instructors, and Idaho is the worst. The most common pay in New York is $56,179, while the median pay in Idaho is $27,356.We found that the West is best for cosmetology instructors, and the Northeast is the worst. Roseville, MI is the best city in the country for cosmetology instructor jobs, where as New York is the best state in the country.
10 best states for cosmetology instructors in 2025
1. New York
Total cosmetology instructor jobs: 530 Average annual salary: $56,179 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
2. Michigan
Total cosmetology instructor jobs: 409 Average annual salary: $48,046 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
3. New Jersey
Total cosmetology instructor jobs: 422 Average annual salary: $48,097 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
4. Mississippi
Total cosmetology instructor jobs: 87 Average annual salary: $45,179 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
5. Massachusetts
Total cosmetology instructor jobs: 289 Average annual salary: $53,380 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
6. North Carolina
Total cosmetology instructor jobs: 519 Average annual salary: $42,521 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
7. California
Total cosmetology instructor jobs: 1,700 Average annual salary: $46,730 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
8. Iowa
Total cosmetology instructor jobs: 162 Average annual salary: $42,741 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
9. Minnesota
Total cosmetology instructor jobs: 208 Average annual salary: $47,810 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
10. Delaware
Total cosmetology instructor jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $42,829 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
Cosmetology instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a cosmetology instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a cosmetology instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $56,179 | $35,000 | 19,849,399 | 530 |
| 2 | Michigan | $48,046 | $31,000 | 9,962,311 | 409 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $48,097 | $30,000 | 9,005,644 | 422 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $45,179 | $31,000 | 2,984,100 | 87 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $53,380 | $33,000 | 6,859,819 | 289 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $42,521 | $29,000 | 10,273,419 | 519 |
| 7 | California | $46,730 | $32,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,700 |
| 8 | Iowa | $42,741 | $29,000 | 3,145,711 | 162 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $47,810 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 208 |
| 10 | Delaware | $42,829 | $27,000 | 961,939 | 67 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $50,416 | $45,000 | 1,427,538 | 53 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $44,265 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 179 |
| 13 | Texas | $42,750 | $30,000 | 28,304,596 | 773 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $41,860 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 34 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $43,869 | $28,000 | 12,805,537 | 352 |
| 16 | Florida | $41,200 | $29,000 | 20,984,400 | 723 |
| 17 | Alabama | $41,578 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 144 |
| 18 | Oregon | $39,920 | $26,000 | 4,142,776 | 248 |
| 19 | Virginia | $40,252 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 581 |
| 20 | Vermont | $40,153 | $25,000 | 623,657 | 30 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $40,006 | $25,000 | 1,059,639 | 42 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $38,704 | $27,000 | 2,088,070 | 76 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $37,848 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 54 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $39,736 | $27,000 | 6,715,984 | 174 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $35,823 | $25,000 | 579,315 | 45 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $38,242 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 124 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $46,224 | $30,000 | 693,972 | 28 |
| 28 | Georgia | $36,959 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 667 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $37,202 | $26,000 | 4,684,333 | 133 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $38,910 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 65 |
| 31 | Indiana | $39,193 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 121 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $39,492 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 48 |
| 33 | Colorado | $35,660 | $25,000 | 5,607,154 | 493 |
| 34 | Missouri | $39,048 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 140 |
| 35 | Nevada | $35,628 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 127 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $38,256 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 37 |
| 37 | Maryland | $37,018 | $24,000 | 6,052,177 | 261 |
| 38 | Alaska | $34,174 | $21,000 | 739,795 | 52 |
| 39 | Connecticut | $39,026 | $24,000 | 3,588,184 | 94 |
| 40 | Maine | $37,208 | $24,000 | 1,335,907 | 37 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $32,483 | $22,000 | 5,024,369 | 353 |
| 42 | Ohio | $34,692 | $23,000 | 11,658,609 | 340 |
| 43 | Utah | $34,840 | $24,000 | 3,101,833 | 118 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $35,731 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 87 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $33,863 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 35 |
| 46 | Arizona | $33,546 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 222 |
| 47 | Montana | $29,857 | $20,000 | 1,050,493 | 66 |
| 48 | Illinois | $33,213 | $22,000 | 12,802,023 | 418 |
| 49 | Kansas | $33,815 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 95 |
| 50 | Washington | $34,652 | $22,000 | 7,405,743 | 227 |
| 51 | Idaho | $27,356 | $18,000 | 1,716,943 | 51 |
Highest paying states for cosmetology instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Cosmetology Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $56,179 |
| 2 | Michigan | $48,046 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $48,097 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $45,179 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $53,380 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $42,521 |
| 7 | California | $46,730 |
| 8 | Iowa | $42,741 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $47,810 |
| 10 | Delaware | $42,829 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $50,416 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $44,265 |
| 13 | Texas | $42,750 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $41,860 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $43,869 |
| 16 | Florida | $41,200 |
| 17 | Alabama | $41,578 |
| 18 | Oregon | $39,920 |
| 19 | Virginia | $40,252 |
| 20 | Vermont | $40,153 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $40,006 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $38,704 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $37,848 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $39,736 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $35,823 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $38,242 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $46,224 |
| 28 | Georgia | $36,959 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $37,202 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $38,910 |
| 31 | Indiana | $39,193 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $39,492 |
| 33 | Colorado | $35,660 |
| 34 | Missouri | $39,048 |
| 35 | Nevada | $35,628 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $38,256 |
| 37 | Maryland | $37,018 |
| 38 | Alaska | $34,174 |
| 39 | Connecticut | $39,026 |
| 40 | Maine | $37,208 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $32,483 |
| 42 | Ohio | $34,692 |
| 43 | Utah | $34,840 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $35,731 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $33,863 |
| 46 | Arizona | $33,546 |
| 47 | Montana | $29,857 |
| 48 | Illinois | $33,213 |
| 49 | Kansas | $33,815 |
| 50 | Washington | $34,652 |
| 51 | Idaho | $27,356 |
Expert opinions on the best states for cosmetology instructors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for cosmetology instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Carrie Kondor
Director, Linfield University
Still, I can say that I believe graduates will find more job possibilities than before, given the broader continuum of teaching environments that this pandemic has opened up!
Cosmetology instructor best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025