How much does a Master Cosmetologist make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Master Cosmetologist in the United States is $33,931 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $16.
However, a Master Cosmetologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $39,055
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $31,257 to $36,613
Key Factors That Influence Master Cosmetologist Salaries
A Master Cosmetologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education
and company size
can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Master Cosmetologist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Master Cosmetologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
How Do Master Cosmetologist Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Master Cosmetologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $42,797
San Francisco: $42,329
Oakland: $41,437
San Jose, CA$42,797
San Francisco, CA$42,329
Oakland, CA$41,437
New York, NY$39,068
Paramus, NJ$38,593
Queens Village, NY$38,591
Passaic, NJ$38,559
Bergenfield, NJ$38,556
Stamford, CT$38,481
Huntington, NY$38,467
Newark, NJ$38,217
Bridgeport, CT$38,145
Vallejo, CA$38,077
New Brunswick, NJ$38,064
Petaluma, CA$38,044
Middlesex, NJ$37,979
Somerset, NJ$37,955
Santa Cruz, CA$37,911
Boston, MA$37,704
Monterey, CA$37,585
Seattle, WA$37,507
Santa Rosa, CA$37,501
Los Angeles, CA$37,490
Juneau, AK$37,402
Washington, DC$37,365
Orange, CA$37,244
Santa Ana, CA$37,155
Long Beach, CA$37,121
Anaheim, CA$37,114
Anchorage, AK$37,097
Santa Maria, CA$36,995
Everett, WA$36,988
Danbury, CT$36,869
Bremerton, WA$36,822
Tacoma, WA$36,700
New Suffolk, NY$36,699
Sacramento, CA$36,690
Santa Barbara, CA$36,652
Trenton, NJ$36,615
San Diego, CA$36,615
Brockton, MA$36,578
Fairbanks, AK$36,495
Lompoc, CA$36,408
Lowell, MA$36,381
Ventura, CA$36,374
Nashua, NH$36,367
Stockton, CA$36,364
Modesto, CA$36,116
Poughkeepsie, NY$36,042
Olympia, WA$35,977
Kennewick, WA$35,977
New Haven, CT$35,964
Lawrence, MA$35,841
Hartford, CT$35,807
Riverside, CA$35,801
New Bedford, MA$35,767
Richland, WA$35,767
Bakersfield, CA$35,719
San Bernardino, CA$35,706
New Britain, CT$35,702
Atlantic City, NJ$35,702
New London, CT$35,689
Norwich, CT$35,679
Portsmouth, NH$35,672
Boulder, CO$35,600
Portland, OR$35,553
Worcester, MA$35,550
Minneapolis, MN$35,444
Philadelphia, PA$35,397
Honolulu, HI$35,285
Saint Paul, MN$35,269
Vineland, NJ$35,261
Providence, RI$35,163
Chicago, IL$35,064
Bellingham, WA$35,024
Springfield, MA$34,997
Baltimore, MD$34,986
Chico, CA$34,902
Pittsfield, MA$34,810
Manchester, NH$34,745
Spokane, WA$34,596
Denver, CO$34,593
Albany, NY$34,433
Troy, NY$34,420
Nassau, NY$34,383
Schenectady, NY$34,348
Wilmington, DE$34,321
Burlington, VT$34,274
Salem, OR$34,260
Portland, ME$34,155
Yakima, WA$34,121
Rochester, MN$34,016
Reno, NV$33,999
Fresno, CA$33,999
Milwaukee, WI$33,968
Detroit, MI$33,934
Ann Arbor, MI$33,929
Allentown, PA$33,924
Colorado Springs, CO$33,867
Syracuse, NY$33,850
Carson City, NV$33,850
Houston, TX$33,802
Eugene, OR$33,785
Gary, IN$33,744
Springfield, OR$33,717
Bismarck, ND$33,711
Galveston, TX$33,687
Medford, OR$33,636
Fort Collins, CO$33,622
Concord, NH$33,605
Austin, TX$33,595
Mesa, AZ$33,524
Reading, PA$33,521
Phoenix, AZ$33,517
Dallas, TX$33,507
Saint Cloud, MN$33,474
Madison, WI$33,429
Utica, NY$33,337
Rochester, NY$33,283
Des Moines, IA$33,280
Raleigh, NC$33,276
Atlanta, GA$33,225
Battle Creek, MI$33,215
Salt Lake City, UT$33,205
Lancaster, PA$33,154
Harrisburg, PA$33,107
Kansas City, MO$33,073
Champaign, IL$33,066
Kansas City, KS$33,066
Fort Worth, TX$33,062
Columbus, OH$33,057
Boca Raton, FL$33,049
Pittsburgh, PA$33,035
Richmond, VA$33,022
Indianapolis, IN$33,015
Cleveland, OH$33,012
Las Vegas, NV$32,971
Cincinnati, OH$32,971
Petersburg, VA$32,920
Huntsville, AL$32,869
Lansing, MI$32,846
Lebanon, PA$32,842
Pueblo, CO$32,839
Appleton, WI$32,828
Buffalo, NY$32,815
Dayton, OH$32,805
Racine, WI$32,798
Charlotte, NC$32,794
Saint Louis, MO$32,784
York, PA$32,764
Elkhart, IN$32,764
Gastonia, NC$32,757
Billings, MT$32,749
Beaumont, TX$32,740
Lorain, OH$32,733
Benton Harbor, MI$32,727
Toledo, OH$32,720
Binghamton, NY$32,703
Rock Hill, SC$32,699
Rockford, IL$32,682
Springfield, IL$32,669
Elyria, OH$32,665
Fargo, ND$32,665
Flagstaff, AZ$32,642
Fort Lauderdale, FL$32,621
Duluth, MN$32,601
Miami, FL$32,601
Cheyenne, WY$32,577
Grand Forks, ND$32,577
Bangor, ME$32,503
Cedar Rapids, IA$32,465
Durham, NC$32,451
Louisville, KY$32,448
Grand Rapids, MI$32,442
Hialeah, FL$32,438
Casper, WY$32,391
Scranton, PA$32,350
New Orleans, LA$32,340
Virginia Beach, VA$32,336
Akron, OH$32,319
Peoria, IL$32,275
Sarasota, FL$32,268
Nashville, TN$32,245
Omaha, NE$32,245
Green Bay, WI$32,245
Baton Rouge, LA$32,228
Charleston, SC$32,221
Jamestown, NY$32,204
Davenport, IA$32,204
Tucson, AZ$32,187
Saint Petersburg, FL$32,167
Tampa, FL$32,160
Evansville, IN$32,140
Port Arthur, TX$32,140
Bradenton, FL$32,126
Santa Fe, NM$32,065
Orlando, FL$32,004
Clearwater, FL$31,994
Canton, OH$31,922
La Crosse, WI$31,922
Albuquerque, NM$31,902
Newport News, VA$31,899
High Point, NC$31,888
Ogden, UT$31,875
Corpus Christi, TX$31,848
Norfolk, VA$31,827
Laramie, WY$31,827
Rock Island, IL$31,807
Saginaw, MI$31,800
Jacksonville, FL$31,797
Salisbury, NC$31,790
Boise, ID$31,783
Moline, IL$31,766
Fort Myers, FL$31,756
Memphis, TN$31,749
Tulsa, OK$31,732
Waterloo, IA$31,712
Spartanburg, SC$31,678
Lincoln, NE$31,661
Fort Wayne, IN$31,654
Provo, UT$31,651
Cedar Falls, IA$31,610
San Antonio, TX$31,597
Greensboro, NC$31,583
South Bend, IN$31,580
Savannah, GA$31,542
Muskegon, MI$31,529
Birmingham, AL$31,525
Winston Salem, NC$31,509
Lake Charles, LA$31,427
Anderson, IN$31,420
Lexington, KY$31,410
Augusta, GA$31,400
Greenville, SC$31,400
Lima, OH$31,373
Wichita, KS$31,369
Tuscaloosa, AL$31,369
Columbia, SC$31,339
Springfield, OH$31,332
Asheville, NC$31,278
Bloomington, IN$31,254
Knoxville, TN$31,132
Shreveport, LA$31,128
Wilmington, NC$31,084
Roanoke, VA$31,084
Topeka, KS$31,023
Frankfort, KY$31,019
Oklahoma City, OK$30,996
Chillicothe, OH$30,982
Longview, TX$30,979
Melbourne, FL$30,976
Sioux Falls, SD$30,921
Mobile, AL$30,918
Terre Haute, IN$30,904
Altoona, PA$30,884
Amarillo, TX$30,860
Killeen, TX$30,850
Fayetteville, AR$30,823
Chattanooga, TN$30,813
Sioux City, IA$30,782
Idaho Falls, ID$30,776
Lynchburg, VA$30,748
Gainesville, FL$30,704
Portsmouth, OH$30,687
Little Rock, AR$30,681
Lafayette, LA$30,667
Youngstown, OH$30,667
Daytona Beach, FL$30,647
Clarksville, TN$30,643
Pensacola, FL$30,640
Temple, TX$30,637
Hopkinsville, KY$30,538
Erie, PA$30,531
Florence, SC$30,518
Charleston, WV$30,463
Great Falls, MT$30,446
Macon, GA$30,399
Tallahassee, FL$30,395
Fayetteville, NC$30,389
Waco, TX$30,382
Helena, MT$30,358
Pine Bluff, AR$30,345
Vincennes, IN$30,304
Lubbock, TX$30,290
Alamogordo, NM$30,270
Twin Falls, ID$30,239
Rapid City, SD$30,229
Jackson, MS$30,168
Huntington, WV$30,166
Greenville, MS$30,165
Parkersburg, WV$30,130
Montgomery, AL$30,124
Wichita Falls, TX$30,090
Springfield, MO$30,090
Biloxi, MS$30,073
Monroe, LA$30,039
Johnstown, PA$30,015
Sumter, SC$30,002
Columbus, GA$29,998
Pascagoula, MS$29,934
Abilene, TX$29,934
Kingsport, TN$29,846
Albany, GA$29,846
Gulfport, MS$29,836
Alexandria, LA$29,724
Fort Smith, AR$29,639
El Paso, TX$29,547
Las Cruces, NM$29,395
Harlingen, TX$29,308
Pocatello, ID$29,303
Florence, AL$29,259
Brownsville, TX$29,252
Mcallen, TX$29,181
Dothan, AL$29,133
Columbus, MS$28,932
Altus, OK$28,774
Lawton, OK$28,709
Pierre, SD$28,587
What Skills Can Increase a Master Cosmetologist's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 8.97% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Inventory Control (Mentioned in 3.28% Job Postings): Inventory control or stock control can be broadly defined as "the activity of checking a shop’s stock." However, a more focused definition takes into account the more science-based, methodical practice of not only verifying a business' inventory but also focusing on the many related facets of inventory management (such as forecasting future demand) "within an organisation to meet the demand placed upon that business economically." Other facets of inventory control include supply chain management, production control, financial flexibility, and customer satisfaction. At the root of inventory control, however, is the inventory control problem, which involves determining when to order, how much to order, and the logistics (where) of those decisions. An extension of inventory control is the inventory control system. This may come in the form of a technological system and its programmed software used for managing various aspects of inventory problems , or it may refer to a methodology (which may include the use of technological barriers) for handling loss prevention in a business.
Container (Mentioned in 2.48% Job Postings): Container is an object used for or capable of holding, esp for transport or storage, such as a carton, box, etc.
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Master Cosmetologist's salary.
Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Master Cosmetologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Master Cosmetologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Healthcare and Telecom
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average.
In contrast, Master Cosmetologist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Master Cosmetologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Master Cosmetologist
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare
$50,897
$24.0
50%
Telecom
$49,200
$24.0
45%
Construction
$47,504
$23.0
40%
Media
$45,807
$22.0
35%
Aerospace & Defense
$44,110
$21.0
30%
How Education impacts a Master Cosmetologist's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Master Cosmetologists enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Master Cosmetologist with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$35,843
and $37,315).
Master Cosmetologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Master Cosmetologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Salaries for a Master Cosmetologist can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $34,024 in 2023
to around $33,461 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Master Cosmetologist salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Master Cosmetologist Over Time
$???
$34,024
$33,746
$33,461
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$34,024
2024
$33,746
2025
$33,461
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Master Cosmetologist
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Master Cosmetologist
Here are companies hiring for Master Cosmetologist and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
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FAQ about Master Cosmetologist
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Master Cosmetologist?
The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Master Cosmetologist roles,
with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
