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Hairstylists have to stay ahead of the rest, as styles and color trends are constantly changing and evolving. Education is your most powerful tool and will remain a crucial piece to fulfilling your dream.
According to bls.gov, the average median pay for a hairstylist is $25K per year, which translates to roughly $11.95 per hour. The top hairstylists earned over $24 per hour (more than $50K per year). The salary outlook does not include tips, which can range wildly.
The job outlook for hairstylists is a 13 percent growth from now to 2026, or over 80K new job openings, which is faster than the average job growth for all.
To become a barber or hairdresser, you must be a minimum age of 16, have a high school diploma or GED, and you’ll need to graduate from cosmetology school. To work in the beauty industry, a state license is necessary.
In order to obtain the license, you must attend barber or cosmetology school. Full-time programs in cosmetology take around 9 months to complete. Once you have become fully licensed, you’ll occasionally need to take continuing-ed classes in order to keep up with the latest trends in style and color.
Search for local schools by state or measure your knowledge with our state board practice exams.