How much do cosmetologists get paid?

As of May 2012, the average hourly pay for a cosmetologist in the United States is $10.91. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly income for someone working as a barber, hairdresser or cosmetologist is $22,770.

Data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the lowest-paid 10 percent of cosmetologists earned less than $8.11 per hour in 2012. Meanwhile, the highest-paid 10 percent had an hourly pay rate of more than $20.39 in the same year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that nearly half of all cosmetologists were self-employed in 2012. As a result, cosmetologists' total income depends on the number of hours they work and the prices they charge.