Cosmetologist Salary – What Can I Earn?
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.