Cosmetology Job Outlook

Cosmetologists are professionals who focus on providing personalized services to help their clients look and feel good about their appearance. These individuals may be hair stylists, manicurists, estheticians, or barbers.

While barbers primarily provide hair cutting services for men, hair stylists who are employed in salons generally cater to both sexes. In some cases, hair stylists also provide other cosmetology services such as manicures, pedicures, or waxing. In most large urban areas, you are likely to find professionals who specialize in each of these areas of service.

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that job growth among cosmetology professionals is likely to grow at least as fast as average over the next ten years. The most opportunities are expected to be for entry-level workers; more experienced professionals will find a tougher job market due to keen competition.

Among all cosmetology professionals, hair stylists are expected to experience the greatest increase in job opportunities simply because of the world’s increasing population. Skin care specialists, or estheticians, are also expected to experience a rapid increase in job opportunities because the number of day spas continues to grow every year.

In addition to finding employment at salons and spas that are already established, there is also a market for enterprising individuals to open their own business. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and think you might enjoy owning and operating your own salon, then you might consider this as a realistic option. In order to be successful as a small business owner, it is highly recommended that you take several business courses such as accounting, bookkeeping, and management.

Earnings for cosmetology professionals tend to vary significantly, as there are many variables that determine each professional’s annual earnings. Base salaries generally range between $19,000 and $28,800, but actual earnings are normally quite a bit higher. The reason for this is that it is a widely accepted practice to pay cosmetology professionals a gratuity in addition to the cost of the service provided.