Trade Career Comparison

Which trade career fits you best?

Hairstylist / Cosmetologist

Provide beauty services including cutting, coloring, and styling hair. May also apply makeup, provide nail care, and perform other beauty treatments.

$35,260/yr median

$24,590$70,220

Faster Than AvgModerateUnion: LowEntry: Moderate

Training Path

State-approved cosmetology program (1,000-1,600 hours) + state licensure

Environment

Indoor

Outlook

Faster Than Avg (+5%)

BLS Code

39-5012

Pros

✓Creative expression is built into the work — every client is a canvas, and you get to use color, cutting, and styling skills to transform how people look and feel. For creative people, this is deeply satisfying.
✓Flexible career path with multiple work models — you can work as a salon employee, rent a booth, go independent, do freelance work for weddings and events, or build your own salon brand. Few careers offer this much flexibility.
✓Tips significantly boost income — while the median base pay is around $17 per hour, tips and service add-ons (color, treatments, styling) can push total earnings to $40,000-$70,000+ depending on your clientele and location.
✓Strong demand with 5% projected job growth — people always need their hair done, and the personal connection between a stylist and client creates loyalty that sustains careers.
✓Relatively accessible training — cosmetology programs typically require about 1,000-1,600 hours (12-18 months), and you can start earning right after licensing. No college degree required.
✓The ability to make people feel confident and beautiful is a genuine emotional reward. Clients come in stressed and leave feeling transformed — that impact is real and meaningful.

Cons

✗Income instability is common, especially early in your career. Building a clientele takes time, and slow weeks hit your wallet directly. Seasonal fluctuations (holidays are busy, January is slow) add to the unpredictability.
✗Standing all day is unavoidable — 8-10 hours on your feet, arms raised, making precise movements. The physical toll accumulates over years: back pain, varicose veins, wrist and shoulder problems, and chemical exposure to dyes, bleach, and styling products.
✗Benefits are typically your responsibility. Most hairstylists are independent contractors or booth renters, meaning you pay for your own health insurance, retirement savings, and time off. No employer safety net.
✗Chemical exposure is constant — hair color, bleach, perms, and keratin treatments involve chemicals that can irritate skin, eyes, and airways. Proper ventilation and protective gloves are essential but not always provided in every salon.
✗Emotional labor is part of every appointment. Clients share personal problems, vent frustrations, and expect you to be an engaged listener while you are also doing precision technical work. This can be draining, especially on long days.

What the Life Is Like

A hairstylist's day is structured around appointments, typically running 15 minutes to 2+ hours depending on the service. Color appointments are the longest and most lucrative. A busy stylist may see 6-12 clients per day, juggling multiple clients at different stages (one processing color while you cut another). Between clients, you mix color, sanitize tools, sweep, and manage your schedule. The pace ranges from relaxed in a boutique salon to intense in a high-volume shop.

Hours often include evenings and Saturdays, since those are prime booking times for working clients. Many stylists take Sunday and Monday off. The work culture in salons varies enormously — from supportive and collaborative to competitive and cliquish. Finding a salon with a healthy culture matters enormously for your happiness and career development. Good salon owners invest in their team's education and create environments where stylists support each other.

The financial model for most hairstylists evolves over their career. You might start as a salon employee earning hourly plus commission, then move to booth rental once you have a solid clientele (paying a fixed weekly rent to the salon and keeping everything you earn). Some stylists eventually go fully independent, renting a suite or opening their own salon. Understanding the business side — pricing your services, tracking expenses, paying quarterly taxes, marketing yourself — is just as important as your technical skills. The stylists who earn the most are not always the most talented with shears; they are the ones who treat their career like a business.

How to Get Started

Enroll in a state-approved cosmetology program

Cosmetology programs cover haircutting, coloring, chemical services (perms, relaxers), skin care basics, nail care, and salon management. Programs typically require 1,000-1,600 hours depending on your state and take 9-18 months to complete. Tuition ranges from $5,000-$20,000. Research schools carefully — talk to recent graduates and look for schools with strong salon placement rates.

Pass your state cosmetology licensing exam

After completing your program, you take a state licensing exam that typically includes a written test and a practical demonstration. Study the theory (sanitation, chemistry, anatomy) and practice your practical skills — timing matters on the practical portion. Your school should prepare you for the specific format your state uses.

Get hired at a salon and build your skills

Your first salon job is about learning the real-world business of hair, not just the technical skills. Many salons hire new stylists as assistants first — shampooing, mixing color, and observing experienced stylists before taking your own clients. This apprenticeship period is invaluable. Look for salons that offer continuing education and a mentor-style environment.

Build your clientele through great service and social media

Consistency and reliability are the foundations of a strong client base. Show up on time, listen to what clients want, and deliver results. Use Instagram and other platforms to showcase your work with high-quality photos. Before-and-after transformations are powerful marketing. Ask satisfied clients for reviews and referrals. It typically takes 1-2 years to build a full book of business.

Invest in continuing education

The best stylists never stop learning. Attend hair shows, take advanced cutting and coloring classes, and pursue specialty certifications. Brands like Redken, Wella, Goldwell, and Aveda offer advanced education programs. Specializing in areas like balayage, extensions, textured hair, or bridal styling can significantly increase your earning potential and client demand.

Plan your business model and financial future

As your career matures, decide whether you want to stay as a salon employee, transition to booth rental, rent a salon suite, or open your own salon. Each model has different financial implications. Start setting aside money for self-employment taxes if you go independent. Look into business insurance, retirement accounts (SEP-IRA or Solo 401k), and the ACA marketplace for health insurance. The SCORE mentorship program and SBA offer free business guidance.

Felony Record & Licensing

Varies by State

Cosmetology licensing varies by state. Some states restrict for certain felonies; many have reformed recently. Check your state board.

Check your state's licensing board before enrolling in a program. Rules vary significantly.

Training Funding & Support

Pell Grants Are Available Again

As of July 2023, the FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. The FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. If a past drug conviction kept you from financial aid before, you can apply again.

WIOA Workforce Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds free job training, career counseling, and supportive services (transportation, work clothes, childcare) for people reentering the workforce. Contact your local American Job Center (careeronestop.org) to see what's available in your area.

Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Hiring

Over 37 states and 150+ cities have "ban-the-box" or fair chance hiring laws that prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications. Many require waiting until after an interview or conditional job offer. These laws are expanding rapidly — check your state's specific rules.

Licensing laws vary by state and change frequently. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Always verify with your state's licensing board before enrolling in a training program.

Data last verified March 2026 · View sources

We verify our data against official sources. Verification dates show when we last checked — they do not guarantee the information is still current. Laws, rates, and thresholds can change at any time. Always confirm critical information at the official source or with a qualified professional.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) — Fair Chance Hiring

General trade accessibility levels for people with felony convictions — categorized as generally-accessible, varies-by-state, often-restricted, or highly-restricted

https://www.nelp.org/policy-issue/criminal-records-and-employment/

Verified March 2026

trade-schools.net — Jobs for Felons

Trade accessibility and reentry employment guidance for specific trades

https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/jobs-for-felons

Verified March 2026

Hire Felons — Reentry Employment Guide

Employer reentry hiring policies and trade accessibility for people with felony convictions

https://www.hirefelons.org/

Verified March 2026

ASE — About ASE Testing

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.ase.com/certification-series/

Verified March 2026

OSHA — Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA forklift certification — employer-provided, no criminal history screening

https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks

Verified March 2026

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification

EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.epa.gov/section608

Verified March 2026

Federal Student Aid — FAFSA Simplification Act

Pell Grant eligibility restored for people with drug convictions and incarcerated individuals, effective July 1, 2023; PELL_GRANT_RESTORED_DATE: "July 2023"

FAFSA Simplification Act, Pub. L. 117-103 (2021); 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-simplification

Verified March 2026

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — Ban the Box Legislation

Ban-the-box and fair chance hiring laws — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities as of 2026; BAN_THE_BOX_STATE_COUNT: 37; BAN_THE_BOX_CITY_COUNT: 150

https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/ban-the-box-legislation

Verified March 2026

NELP — Ban the Box: U.S. Cities, Counties, and States

Fair chance hiring law coverage — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities; BAN_THE_BOX_PRIVATE_EMPLOYER_STATES: ["California", "Illinois", "New Jersey", "Washington"]

https://www.nelp.org/publication/ban-the-box-fair-chance-hiring-state-and-local-guide/

Verified March 2026

U.S. Department of Labor — Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)

WIOA Section 169 workforce funding for reentry — job training, career counseling, and supportive services

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. § 3224; WIOA Sec. 169

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/reentry

Verified March 2026

Legal Information Institute — 18 U.S.C. § 922

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, effectively barring law enforcement careers

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

Verified March 2026