Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for cosmetology instructors in the United States
Are cosmetology instructor jobs in demand?
Cosmetology instructor job and salary trends over time
Cosmetology instructor jobs over time
Cosmetology instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,492 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,501 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 2,652 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,609 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,695 | 0.00% |
Average cosmetology instructor salary over time
Cosmetology instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $45,344 | $21.80 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $44,528 | $21.41 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $43,306 | $20.82 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $42,066 | $20.22 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $41,300 | $19.86 | +2.4% |
Cosmetology instructor jobs by state
Most common states for cosmetology instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 493 | 9% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 45 | 8% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 581 | 7% |
| 4 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 353 | 7% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 67 | 7% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 52 | 7% |
| 7 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 667 | 6% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 248 | 6% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 66 | 6% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 519 | 5% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 422 | 5% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 162 | 5% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 34 | 5% |
| 14 | Vermont | 623,657 | 30 | 5% |
| 15 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,700 | 4% |
| 16 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 409 | 4% |
| 17 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 289 | 4% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 208 | 4% |
| 19 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 53 | 4% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 42 | 4% |
Most common cities for cosmetology instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lorain | 1 | 2% | $35,392 |
| 2 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $33,315 |
| 3 | San Antonio | 1 | 0% | $43,874 |
Cosmetology Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of cosmetology instructor experts
Tiffin University
College of Charleston
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Franklin and Marshall College
AGWA - American Grant Writers' Association, Inc.
The University of North Carolina Greensboro
Texas State University
University of Mount Union
Kent State University
Northwestern University
Boise State University
Linfield University
Dr. Stephanie Opfer
Associate Professor of English, Assistant Dean of the School of Creative and Media ArtsTiffin University
Visual And Performing Arts
What will help Cosmetology Instructors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Unfortunately, teaching as an adjunct does not pay well. Students should keep their full-time jobs and teach part-time until they find a full-time job at a college or university. That part-time teaching provides them valuable experience and connections that make them more competitive candidates for full-time positions because they'd also be competing with candidates who have PhDs. So adjunct work is more of a long-term investment rather than an immediate return. Also, even full-time teaching jobs don't pay particularly well, so they'll really need to love teaching if they want to do it full-time. If they don't like teaching as an adjunct, they won't like doing it full-time.
What experience really stands out on Cosmetology Instructor resumes?
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice: The experience that most stands out on resumés, to my mind, is definitely internships or anything where the applicant has had to show initiative and exercise independent thought.
What Cosmetology Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Suzanne Kemp Ph.D.: They need to stay engaged in some level of working with people with disabilities. If they do something that isn't relevant to the field, they won't be as marketable as a new graduate.
What general advice would you give to a Cosmetology Instructor?
David McMahan Ph.D.: Keep open to possibilities beyond the narrow range of what your diploma lists as your major or minor. Whatever job you get trained for today, in 10-20 years, it may be very different. Or it may not exist. Focus on obtaining and maintaining flexibility, critical thinking, creativity, and passion for learning. Being an interesting person is as vital as any credential.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Cosmetology Instructors in the next 3-5 years?
John Porter Ph.D.: There is not a lot of technology required in grant writing. The most critical and prevalent skill in grant writing, which is lacking, is appropriately writing. Over the past decade, there has been an increase in abbreviation and slang. When put into a standard text, these expressions can become confusing.
The technology is that younger, individual writers may like to stay up on the most recent software and communication methods. Whereas funders, private, corporate, and government, tend not to keep up as fast and have older software versions. This means that the newest and glitziest software may not be compatible with the funder's software when submitting grant proposals and applications.
April Dawkins Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorThe University of North Carolina Greensboro
Library & Information Science Department
What experience really stands out on Cosmetology Instructor resumes?
April Dawkins Ph.D.: Across the United States, most school librarians are required to have a graduate degree in either education or library and information science with licensure as a school librarian (school library media coordinator). The most likely experience to benefit them in their job search is a previous experience as a classroom teacher. Teaching is one of the significant roles that school librarians play in schools, through direct and indirect instruction with students, and professional development for classroom teachers.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Cosmetology Instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Rodney Rohde Ph.D.: There are large vacancy rates all over the country. This is a good news/bad news issue. However, with a degree in medical laboratory science (also known as a clinical laboratory science) AND certification, one can find employment anywhere in the U.S. One of the great things about this career is that graduates honestly can decide where they "fit best" with regard to geography and employer (urban, rural, large, or small).
Dr. Jerome Miksell
Professor (Musicianship, Technology, Viola), Department ChairUniversity of Mount Union
Music Department
What Cosmetology Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jerome Miksell: An aspiring performer should be practicing and looking for performance opportunities. I would also recommend travel that might enhance understanding of a particular style of music.
Those interested in business opportunities could consider finding a part-time job in a music store.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Cosmetology Instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jay Dorfman: There are certainly some states with teacher shortages, but that is often because those states' political or economic climates make them less desirable as a place for teachers to work. If teachers' teaching conditions and salaries were improved, there would be more people interested in entering the profession. That said, I typically tell students that the broader their search for a job can be, the more likely they are to find a good fit.
What Cosmetology Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Helen Callus: A gap year is a terrific way to build a resume. By looking at where there might be a lack of experience like competitions, teaching, administration, summer festival interns, assistantships - they can focus their time and build their resumes well. I also think being creative in these current times, showing that you have experience teaching remotely, making a studio, creating a website, writing an article, and doing research that could be helpful later on. You could also spend the time preparing repertoire to teach or take auditions and make your first recording and video YouTube performance.
Dr. Lori Gray
Associate Professor: Director of Music EducationBoise State University
Department of Music Education
What type of skills will young Cosmetology Instructors need?
Dr. Lori Gray: For the past several years, it has been clear that employers are seeking graduates with 21st Century Learning Skills (critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration). The four Cs of 21st Century Learning frequently come up during reference calls on my end and interviews for our recent graduates.
I would add that graduates need a strong work ethic, an understanding of professionalism and respect in the workplace, and self-awareness and an understanding of personal needs and limitations both at work and in their personal lives. In these current living conditions during a global pandemic (COVID-19), graduates also need resilience, perseverance, adaptability, and flexibility. These are all skills I would want for our Music Education majors to cultivate, as the climate in K-12 Education is ever-changing. However, I believe these are all skills that would be useful in any new career path.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Cosmetology Instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Carrie Kondor: 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!