According to a survey by the Occupational Employment Statistics in 2008, the average salary of a cosmetologist was $26,660, which equates to roughly $12 an hour. Although this is a fairly accurate average, there are several people who make well above it due to their experience and their work ethic. When considering the salary for this industry, it is important to realize that there are several factors that need to be considered because they have such an immense impact on the actual salary of the cosmetologist.

Different Categories

Cosmetology can be separated into several different categories, because the industry is so large. There are hair stylists, nail technicians, skin care specialists, and make-up artists, and they all have expertise with their specific skills that allow them to be successful. Depending upon the category of the industry, a cosmetologist can earn several different wages.

Tips

Spas and salons rely on lagniappes in addition to a base wage, so having good customer service skills in addition to making sure that the customer is satisfied with the end result is the number one way to be successful. For this reason, having excellent customer service skills is imperative to being successful as a cosmetologist. Starting out in this industry, they will not earn as much money because they will not have a solid client base or as much experience. With more experience, they will be preferred over other professionals, and their client list will get bigger, which is helpful because they will tell others and more business will be gained.

Location

Location is another factor that has an effect on how much money is earned. In a place with a high cost of living, there is an opportunity to earn more because the pay is generally higher to keep up with the high costs. Also, if the spa or salon is set up in a wealthier part of town, the tips and gratuity will be higher because the clientele will generally have more discretionary income.

No matter what field of cosmetology you want to excel in, you must attend an accredited school to obtain your license. The whole process of becoming a cosmetologist involves a significant amount of training and education.  Unless you have the passion, willingness and drive, you will not be successful in this field.

Skills

The skills that you’ll need to become a cosmetologist include being able to deal with customers well, having a friendly and inviting personality, and being able to pick up new techniques quickly and be able to teach them to others. It also helps to have a passion for helping others, in addition to being able to converse with them naturally.

Education

Most states require you to have a high school degree or a GED before trying to obtain a license, and so is taking the right courses at a cosmetology school. Affectionately known as beauty school, cosmetology school can last anywhere from 9 months to 2 years, depending on what the student is going to school for as well as the location of the school. During this time, the students will learn about hair, skin and nails and be able to practice techniques to take care of them. They will also be able to pick which one that they want to focus on so they can know what branch of cosmetology they want to work with.

Training

Training is one of the most important factors because it will give you experience within the field. Training is like an apprenticeship that will allow for you to fine-tune your skills and decide what exactly you want to do within the field. At this point, you can determine if you want to do very well at hair coloring, styling, or cutting, for example.

License

After training and going through cosmetology school, you’ll be awarded your license after passing the exam. The exam includes a written portion to show what you have learned, and it also includes a demonstration part so that you can apply what you learned. There is a fee to take the exam, which varies by state. Once you are licensed, you are able to work anywhere you would like to within the field. However, some states require additional licenses, so be sure to check the laws of your state to see if you need anything else before starting your career.

A cosmetologist is a very broad term to describe a professional who specializes in a particular service that both men and women pay for to make them feel better and physically appear better. Cosmetologists can be hairdressers, make-up artists, nail technicians, or skin care specialists, which is why the term is so loosely used and that there can be no set job description for a cosmetologist.

Occupations

Hairdressers are in charge of being aware of current hairstyles and being able to shampoo, condition, cut, color, and treat all types of hair. Make-up artists must be knowledgeable of different skin types and colors when they do their clients make-up, whether they are hired personally or through their company. Nail technicians deal with providing their clients with manicures and pedicures, including cleaning and painting the nails and applying acrylic nails if need be. Skin care specialists give their clients’ facials and give massages, while simultaneously making the client feel comfortable and relaxed.

Work Environment

Depending upon the specialization, cosmetologists often work in a salon-type setting where they work with others who work with the same specialization. Hairdressers work in hair salons, and skin care specialists generally work in spas, for example. A salon is also a general term, because there are several types of salons that cater to specific areas. The two most common are nail and hair salons. Spas generally encompass aspects of almost all areas of cosmetology. The number one purpose of a spa is for the clients to feel pampered and so they feel relaxed and worry free. There are skin care specialists available for body massages, facials, and skin treatments for the body as well. Manicurists are usually employed by spas as well.

Entrepreneurship

When a cosmetologist has her own business, she will either run her own salon or she will work freelance and be hired on an as-needed basis. If she has her own business, it will take a lot of marketing efforts for her to be successful. It helps to build a client base, because the best kind of marketing is word-of-mouth. If a few of her clients tell a few of their friends about the services provided, then the cosmetologist’s client base grows and continues to grow.

A cosmetologist provides her clients with services that will make them feel better about themselves both physically and emotionally, which is their main goal for working in the service industry.