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Cosmetology

Instructional content for this group of programs is defined in codes 12.0401 - 12.0499.

Types of Degrees Cosmetology Majors Are Earning

Those studying Cosmetology can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	69,567
Associate’s Degree	1,399
Master’s Degree	60,071

What Cosmetology Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Cosmetology emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Cosmetology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Cosmetology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Sales and Marketing — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Cosmetology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Active Listening — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Service Orientation — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Social Perceptiveness — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Cosmetology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Speech Recognition — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Cosmetology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	3.9 / 7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	3.9 / 7
Thinking Creatively	3.7 / 7
Getting Information	3.7 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	3.7 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.6 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.6 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.5 / 7
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others	3.4 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.4 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Cosmetology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Facebook	Web page creation and editing software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Appointment scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
YouTube	Video creation and editing software	—
Intuit QuickBooks	Accounting software	—
Customer information databases	Data base user interface and query software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Sale processing software	Point of sale POS software	—
Apple iOS	Operating system software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Cosmetology graduates include:

• Beauty Therapist
• Beauty Advisor
• Beauty Specialist
• Hair and Makeup Designer
• Hairstylist
• Hair Cutter
• Stylist
• Beautician
• Image Consultant
• Electrolysist
• Electrologist
• Electrolysis Operator
• Electrolysis Needle Operator
• Hair Dresser
• Cosmetic Consultant

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Cosmetology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Postsecondary certificate	41.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	23.7%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	8.6%
Less than a high school diploma	8.2%
Bachelor’s degree	6.3%
Some college courses	6.2%
Master’s degree	4.6%
First professional degree	0.7%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Cosmetology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 90.4% of Cosmetology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	123,778	90.4%
Men	13,158	9.6%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Cosmetology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	52,040	38.0%
Asian	4,841	3.5%
Hispanic or Latino	43,244	31.6%
Black or African American	25,589	18.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1,174	0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	507	0.4%
Two or More Races	5,142	3.8%
Race Unknown	3,791	2.8%
International Students	608	0.4%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Cosmetology Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Cosmetology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$17,533
4 years	$20,210
5 years	$22,425

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $22,425 — roughly 28% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Cosmetology Programs

Online study are documented by IPEDS for Cosmetology. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	4	4

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Cosmetology Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Cosmetology graduates earn a median of $20,210 four years after completion — about 47% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Personal and Culinary Services	164,764
Culinary Arts and Related Services	24,487
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science	2,676
Casino Operations and Services	564
Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, Other	101
CULINARY, ENTERTAINMENT, AND PERSONAL SERVICES	—

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.