Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for licensed cosmetologists in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

  • There are over 145,779 licensed cosmetologists currently employed in the United States.
  • 92.1% of all licensed cosmetologists are women, while 7.9% are men.
  • The average age of an employed licensed cosmetologist is 40 years old.
  • The most common ethnicity of licensed cosmetologists is White (59.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.8%), Black or African American (12.6%) and Asian (7.9%).
  • Licensed cosmetologists are most in-demand in Boca Raton, FL.
  • The education industry is the highest-paying for licensed cosmetologists.
  • Montclair, NJ pays an annual average wage of $41,801, the highest in the US.
  • In 2021, women earned 91% of what men earned.
  • 12% of all licensed cosmetologists are LGBT.
  • Washington is the best state for licensed cosmetologists to live.
  • Licensed cosmetologists are 78% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.

Licensed Cosmetologist Statistics By Gender

92.1% of licensed cosmetologists are women and 7.9% of licensed cosmetologists are men.

  • Female, 92.1%
  • Male, 7.9%

Licensed Cosmetologists By Gender

GenderPercentages
Female92.1%
Male7.9%

Gender Pay Gap For Licensed Cosmetologist

Women Earn 91ยข For Every $1 Earned By Men

male-income
Male Income
$40,289
female-income
Female Income
$36,786

Licensed Cosmetologist Gender Over Time

This data shows how men and women predominate in the licensed cosmetologist position over time.

Male
Female
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021

Licensed Cosmetologist Gender By Year

YearMaleFemale
20107.47%92.53%
20118.19%91.81%
20128.02%91.98%
20138.35%91.65%
20148.20%91.80%
20158.22%91.78%
20168.77%91.23%
20178.14%91.86%
20189.13%90.87%
20199.61%90.39%
20208.46%91.54%
20217.92%92.08%

Licensed Cosmetologist Male to Female Ratio

We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, barber apprentice and master barber have the biggest difference in gender.

Job TitleMaleFemale
Electrologist1%99%
Medical Esthetician4%96%
Licensed Esthetician5%95%
Licensed Cosmetologist8%92%
Barber75%25%
Master Barber78%22%
Barber Apprentice79%21%

Licensed Cosmetologist Statistics By Race

The most common ethnicity among licensed cosmetologists is White, which makes up 59.8% of all licensed cosmetologists. Comparatively, there are 14.8% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 12.6% of the Black or African American ethnicity.

  • White, 59.8%
  • Hispanic or Latino, 14.8%
  • Black or African American, 12.6%
  • Asian, 7.9%
  • Unknown, 4.3%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%

Licensed Cosmetologist Race

Licensed Cosmetologist RacePercentages
White59.8%
Hispanic or Latino14.8%
Black or African American12.6%
Asian7.9%
Unknown4.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%

Licensed Cosmetologist Race And Ethnicity Over Time

Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among licensed cosmetologists.

  • White
  • Asian
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Black or African American

Licensed Cosmetologist Race By Year

YearWhiteBlack or African AmericanAsianHispanic or Latino
201066.26%13.10%6.33%12.18%
201165.96%13.25%6.10%12.51%
201264.93%13.55%6.18%13.32%
201365.22%13.49%6.23%13.11%
201465.15%13.34%5.96%13.10%
201565.03%12.58%6.57%13.56%
201663.89%12.69%6.92%14.02%
201763.35%12.27%7.83%13.95%
201864.57%12.35%7.13%13.59%
201964.21%12.14%7.60%13.65%
202061.57%11.88%7.53%14.55%
202159.81%12.60%7.93%14.76%

Licensed Cosmetologist Wage Gap By Race

White licensed cosmetologists have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino licensed cosmetologists have the lowest average salary at $38,718.
$43,000
$42,000
$41,000
$40,000
$39,000
$38,000
Unknown
White
Black or African American
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
EthnicitySalary
Unknown$40,953
White$42,069
Black or African American$39,540
Asian$40,249
Hispanic or Latino$38,718

Licensed Cosmetologist JOBS

Average Age of a Licensed Cosmetologist

We determined the average age of licensed cosmetologists based on ethnicity and gender.

Male
Female

Licensed Cosmetologist Age By Race

RaceMale AgeFemale Age
Black or African American4240
Unknown39
Asian4446.5
Hispanic or Latino4337
White4138
American Indian and Alaska Native42

Licensed Cosmetologist Age Breakdown

This chart breaks down the ages of licensed cosmetologist employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of licensed cosmetologists is 40+ years old, which represents 49% of the population.

40+ years

30-40 years

20-30 years


Licensed Cosmetologist Age

Licensed Cosmetologist YearsPercentages
40+ years49%
30-40 years29%
20-30 years22%

Types of Licensed Cosmetologist Degree Levels

The most common degree for licensed cosmetologists is associate degree 29% of licensed cosmetologists earn that degree. A close second is bachelor's degree with 23% and rounding it off is high school diploma with 18%.

  • Associate, 29%
  • Bachelors, 23%
  • High School Diploma, 18%
  • Diploma, 13%
  • Other Degrees, 17%

Licensed Cosmetologists By Education

Licensed Cosmetologist DegreePercentages
Associate29%
Bachelors23%
High School Diploma18%
Diploma13%
Other Degrees17%

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Licensed Cosmetologist Wage Gap By Education

Licensed cosmetologists with a Bachelors degree earn more than those without, at $43,613 annually. With a Associate degree, licensed cosmetologists earn a median annual income of $40,837 compared to $38,407 for licensed cosmetologists with an High School Diploma degree.
$45,000
$43,000
$41,000
$39,000
$37,000
High School Diploma or Less
Bachelor's Degree
Some College/ Associate Degree
EducationSalary
High School Diploma or Less$38,407
Bachelor's Degree$43,613
Some College/ Associate Degree$40,837

Licensed Cosmetologist Employment Statistics

This section highlights information about where licensed cosmetologists work. We found most licensed cosmetologists work for a private company. In addition, the industry that employs the most licensed cosmetologists is the professional industry.

Company Size

We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire licensed cosmetologists.

< 50 employees

50 - 100 employees

100 - 500 employees

500 - 1,000 employees

1,000 - 10,000 employees

> 10,000

Licensed Cosmetologist Jobs By Employer Size

Company SizePercentages
< 50 employees10%
50 - 100 employees21%
100 - 500 employees30%
500 - 1,000 employees9%
1,000 - 10,000 employees17%
> 10,000 employees13%

The Types Of Companies Licensed Cosmetologist Work In

Employees with the licensed cosmetologist job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most licensed cosmetologists prefer to work at private companies over public companies.

Education

Public

Private

Government

Licensed Cosmetologist Jobs By Sector

Company TypePercentages
Education6%
Public14%
Private78%
Government2%

Top Industries Hiring Licensed Cosmetologists

Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ licensed cosmetologists. Those industries include professional, retail and health care.

Professional

Retail

Health Care

Hospitality

Technology

Licensed Cosmetologist Turnover And Employment Statistics

Licensed Cosmetologist Unemployment Rate Over Time

The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of licensed cosmetologists changed.

  • Unemployment rate

Licensed Cosmetologist Unemployment Rate By Year

YearLicensed Cosmetologist Unemployment Rate
20103.68%
20113.78%
20124.14%
20133.57%
20143.48%
20152.63%
20162.46%
20172.31%
20182.10%
20191.86%
20205.43%
20216.02%

The Average Number of Years That Licensed Cosmetologist Stay in a Job

By looking over 2,743 licensed cosmetologists resumes, we figured out that the average licensed cosmetologist enjoys staying at their job for 11+ years for a percentage of 26%.

Less than one year

1-2 years

3-4 years

5-7 years

8-10 years

11+ years

Licensed Cosmetologist Tenure

Number or YearsPercentages
Less than 1 year14%
1-2 years25%
3-4 years12%
5-7 years16%
8-10 years8%
11+ years26%

Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Licensed Cosmetologists with Other Job Titles

After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to licensed cosmetologists.

Job TitleLGBTJob Openings
Pedicurist5.12%8,505
Master Barber8.10%10,378
Clinical Esthetician8.70%55,121
Licensed Cosmetologist11.87%-
Scalp Treatment Specialist12.20%20,205

Licensed Cosmetologist LGBT Demographics

ProfessionPercentages of LGBT Job Openings
Pedicurist5.12%8,505
Master Barber8.10%10,378
Clinical Esthetician8.70%55,121
Scalp Treatment Specialist12.20%20,205

Foreign Languages Spoken By Licensed Cosmetologists

The most common foreign language among licensed cosmetologists is Spanish at 77.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Vietnamese at 7.4% and Japanese is the third-most popular at 3.7%.

  • Spanish, 77.8%
  • Vietnamese, 7.4%
  • Japanese, 3.7%
  • Carrier, 3.7%
  • Dakota, 3.7%
  • Other, 3.7%

Licensed Cosmetologist Languages Spoken

Foreign LanguagePercentages
Spanish77.8%
Vietnamese7.4%
Japanese3.7%
Carrier3.7%
Dakota3.7%
Other3.7%

Licensed Cosmetologist Jobs

Recently Added Licensed Cosmetologist Jobs

Licensed Cosmetologist Heatmaps

Where Do Licensed Cosmetologists Earn The Most?

Licensed cosmetologists earn the most in Washington, where the average licensed cosmetologist salary is $51,841. The map here shows where licensed cosmetologists earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.

Average Salary

Which State Has The Most Licensed Cosmetologists?

By looking through more than 2,743 resumes, we found that the most popular places for licensed cosmetologists are Chicago, IL and New York, NY.

Number of Licensed Cosmetologists

Number Of Licensed Cosmetologist Jobs By State

RankStateNumber of JobsAverage Salary
1California3,415$39,713
2Texas3,166$34,207
3Illinois1,471$38,520
4North Carolina1,466$37,749
5Michigan1,465$38,112
6Washington1,052$51,841
7Minnesota1,039$44,633
8Arizona1,004$36,418
9Missouri904$37,828
10Wisconsin789$41,620
11Florida733$35,514
12Colorado680$39,476
13Alabama664$34,714
14Iowa570$39,098
15Ohio569$36,896
16Pennsylvania537$36,389
17Kansas526$31,983
18Oregon525$38,992
19Nebraska365$39,882
20Indiana349$38,010
21New York337$38,772
22Utah321$37,015
23Tennessee303$34,038
24Georgia297$38,393
25Massachusetts276$40,014
26Nevada274$31,467
27New Mexico273$24,495
28New Jersey267$41,823
29Virginia244$40,081
30Delaware226$31,026
31Oklahoma201$30,640
32Rhode Island193$36,946
33Idaho191$37,178
34South Carolina178$37,854
35Kentucky177$31,251
36Connecticut130$36,714
37Louisiana129$32,351
38Montana122$47,540
39Maryland110$40,907
40Arkansas98$27,983
41Hawaii94$34,852
42Mississippi79$34,315
43New Hampshire78$33,314
44West Virginia73$45,616
45Alaska66$41,870
46Wyoming56$40,612
47District of Columbia51$38,932
48Maine38$33,108
49South Dakota37$41,814
50North Dakota20$47,514
51Vermont20$41,705

Licensed Cosmetologist Demographics FAQs

How Many Licensed Cosmetologist Are There In The Us?

There are over 145,779 Licensed Cosmetologists in the United States.

What Percentage Of Licensed Cosmetologists Are Black?

12.6% of Licensed Cosmetologists are Black or African American

What Race Are Most Licensed Cosmetologists?

Most a are White, with 59.8% of Licensed Cosmetologists belonging to this ethnicity. 14.8% of Licensed Cosmetologists are Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% of Licensed Cosmetologists are Black or African American, 7.9% of Licensed Cosmetologists are Asian, 4.3% of Licensed Cosmetologists are Unknown, and 0.6% of Licensed Cosmetologists are American Indian and Alaska Native

Are Licensed Cosmetologist Jobs Male - Dominated?

No, Licensed Cosmetologist jobs are not male - dominated. 92% of Licensed Cosmetologists are female, and 7% are male, so there are more female Licensed Cosmetologists than male Licensed Cosmetologists in the United States.

How Old Is The Average Licensed Cosmetologist?

The average Licensed Cosmetologist is 40 years old. 49% of Licensed Cosmetologists are 40+ years old or older, 29% are between the ages of 30-40 years, and 22% are between 20-30 years old

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