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Best states for a licensed cosmetologist
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like licensed cosmetologists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for licensed cosmetologists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for licensed cosmetologist jobs.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for licensed cosmetologists. Washington is the best state for licensed cosmetologists, where the median salary is $51,841.We found that Washington is the best state for licensed cosmetologist jobs, whereas Arkansas is the worst.
10 best states for licensed cosmetologists in 2026
1. Washington
Total licensed cosmetologist jobs: 1,052 Average annual salary: $51,841 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.57
2. Minnesota
Total licensed cosmetologist jobs: 1,039 Average annual salary: $44,633 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
3. Montana
Total licensed cosmetologist jobs: 122 Average annual salary: $47,540 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
4. Wisconsin
Total licensed cosmetologist jobs: 789 Average annual salary: $41,620 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.55
5. West Virginia
Total licensed cosmetologist jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $45,616 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.52
6. Nebraska
Total licensed cosmetologist jobs: 365 Average annual salary: $39,882 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.79
7. Iowa
Total licensed cosmetologist jobs: 570 Average annual salary: $39,098 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.71
8. North Dakota
Total licensed cosmetologist jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $47,514 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 0.23
9. Michigan
Total licensed cosmetologist jobs: 1,465 Average annual salary: $38,112 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 2.06
10. Wyoming
Total licensed cosmetologist jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $40,612 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
Licensed cosmetologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a licensed cosmetologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a licensed cosmetologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $51,841 | $41,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,052 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $44,633 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,039 |
| 3 | Montana | $47,540 | $37,000 | 1,050,493 | 122 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $41,620 | $31,000 | 5,795,483 | 789 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $45,616 | $32,000 | 1,815,857 | 73 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $39,882 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 365 |
| 7 | Iowa | $39,098 | $29,000 | 3,145,711 | 570 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $47,514 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 20 |
| 9 | Michigan | $38,112 | $28,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,465 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $40,612 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 56 |
| 11 | South Dakota | $41,814 | $31,000 | 869,666 | 37 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $37,749 | $26,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,466 |
| 13 | Missouri | $37,828 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 904 |
| 14 | Vermont | $41,705 | $31,000 | 623,657 | 20 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $41,823 | $29,000 | 9,005,644 | 267 |
| 16 | Colorado | $39,476 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 680 |
| 17 | Alaska | $41,870 | $37,000 | 739,795 | 66 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $36,946 | $26,000 | 1,059,639 | 193 |
| 19 | Illinois | $38,520 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,471 |
| 20 | Indiana | $38,010 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 349 |
| 21 | Oregon | $38,992 | $30,000 | 4,142,776 | 525 |
| 22 | California | $39,713 | $28,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,415 |
| 23 | Idaho | $37,178 | $28,000 | 1,716,943 | 191 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $40,014 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 276 |
| 25 | Arizona | $36,418 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,004 |
| 26 | Ohio | $36,896 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 569 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $37,854 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 178 |
| 28 | Georgia | $38,393 | $27,000 | 10,429,379 | 297 |
| 29 | Utah | $37,015 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 321 |
| 30 | Virginia | $40,081 | $28,000 | 8,470,020 | 244 |
| 31 | Maryland | $40,907 | $28,000 | 6,052,177 | 110 |
| 32 | Alabama | $34,714 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 664 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $36,389 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 537 |
| 34 | Texas | $34,207 | $24,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,166 |
| 35 | New York | $38,772 | $27,000 | 19,849,399 | 337 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $38,932 | $27,000 | 693,972 | 51 |
| 37 | Kansas | $31,983 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 526 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $34,038 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 303 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $34,852 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 94 |
| 40 | Florida | $35,514 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 733 |
| 41 | Connecticut | $36,714 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 130 |
| 42 | Delaware | $31,026 | $21,000 | 961,939 | 226 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $34,315 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 79 |
| 44 | Nevada | $31,467 | $22,000 | 2,998,039 | 274 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $33,314 | $24,000 | 1,342,795 | 78 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $31,251 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 177 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $32,351 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 129 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $30,640 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 201 |
| 49 | Maine | $33,108 | $24,000 | 1,335,907 | 38 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $24,495 | $17,000 | 2,088,070 | 273 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $27,983 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 98 |
Highest paying states for licensed cosmetologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Licensed Cosmetologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $51,841 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $44,633 |
| 3 | Montana | $47,540 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $41,620 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $45,616 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $39,882 |
| 7 | Iowa | $39,098 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $47,514 |
| 9 | Michigan | $38,112 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $40,612 |
| 11 | South Dakota | $41,814 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $37,749 |
| 13 | Missouri | $37,828 |
| 14 | Vermont | $41,705 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $41,823 |
| 16 | Colorado | $39,476 |
| 17 | Alaska | $41,870 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $36,946 |
| 19 | Illinois | $38,520 |
| 20 | Indiana | $38,010 |
| 21 | Oregon | $38,992 |
| 22 | California | $39,713 |
| 23 | Idaho | $37,178 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $40,014 |
| 25 | Arizona | $36,418 |
| 26 | Ohio | $36,896 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $37,854 |
| 28 | Georgia | $38,393 |
| 29 | Utah | $37,015 |
| 30 | Virginia | $40,081 |
| 31 | Maryland | $40,907 |
| 32 | Alabama | $34,714 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $36,389 |
| 34 | Texas | $34,207 |
| 35 | New York | $38,772 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $38,932 |
| 37 | Kansas | $31,983 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $34,038 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $34,852 |
| 40 | Florida | $35,514 |
| 41 | Connecticut | $36,714 |
| 42 | Delaware | $31,026 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $34,315 |
| 44 | Nevada | $31,467 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $33,314 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $31,251 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $32,351 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $30,640 |
| 49 | Maine | $33,108 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $24,495 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $27,983 |
Licensed cosmetologist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025