What is the average cosmetologist salary?

Cosmetologists make an average of $22,770 per year, which is around $10.91 per hour, states the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest-paid top 10 percent of cosmetologists make more than $20.39 per hour, while the lowest-paid 10 percent make less than $8.11 per hour, as of 2012.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the cosmetology profession to grow as fast as other professions and projects a growth of 13 percent by 2022. The BLS estimates this growth to add an addition 83,300 jobs to the already existing 663,300 jobs for cosmetologists, hairdressers and barbers. The education required for cosmetologists varies by state, but all candidates must graduate from state-approved cosmetology programs.