What is the average salary of a cosmetologist?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2014 the average salary for a cosmetologist is $27,530 per year or $13 an hour. The exact salary depends on whether the person works for a private company or a larger organization.

Cosmetologists in larger metropolitan areas in the northern United States, including New York City and Chicago, tend to have higher annual salaries than those who work in southern cities like Atlanta. The highest cosmetologist salaries tend to go to individuals who work for performing arts companies. The average salary for these cosmetologists is around $72,000 a year or approximately $34 per hour.