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The differences between stylists and licensed cosmetologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a stylist and a licensed cosmetologist. Additionally, a stylist has an average salary of $37,985, which is higher than the $36,637 average annual salary of a licensed cosmetologist.
The top three skills for a stylist include good time management, POS and data entry. The most important skills for a licensed cosmetologist are retail sales, customer service, and product sales.
| Stylist | Licensed Cosmetologist | |
| Yearly salary | $37,985 | $36,637 |
| Hourly rate | $18.26 | $17.61 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 49,296 | 52,740 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A stylist is responsible for providing fashion advice, choosing the appropriate clothing for models, maintaining the fashion style, and supervising photoshoots. Stylists must always be updated with the latest fashion trends for recommendations. A stylist must have excellent communication skills to connect with various brand management and fashion stores for purchasing items or inquiring about clothing collections. In some cases, stylists are usually consulted by a team of the fashion brand to give inputs on the appropriate style, including color schemes and overall design.
A Licensed Cosmetologist provides various services, such as hairstyling, skincare, nail treatments, and makeup. They are responsible for complying with health and safety standards.
Stylists and licensed cosmetologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Stylist | Licensed Cosmetologist | |
| Average salary | $37,985 | $36,637 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $53,000 | Between $24,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Denver, CO | Montclair, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Columbia International University | The Lash Lounge |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Education |
There are a few differences between a stylist and a licensed cosmetologist in terms of educational background:
| Stylist | Licensed Cosmetologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Cosmetology | Cosmetology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between stylists' and licensed cosmetologists' demographics:
| Stylist | Licensed Cosmetologist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 13.6% Female, 86.4% | Male, 7.9% Female, 92.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 8.1% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 7.9% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |