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Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor

Types of Degrees Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor Majors Are Earning

Those studying Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	424
Associate’s Degree	5
Master’s Degree	936

What Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor Majors Need to Know

Studies in Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Sales and Marketing — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 2.8 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 2.4 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 2.8 / 5; level 2.8 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Active Listening — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.
• Service Orientation — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 2.4 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Finger Dexterity — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Manual Dexterity — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	4.4 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	3.9 / 7
Thinking Creatively	3.8 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	3.7 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.7 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.6 / 7
Performing General Physical Activities	3.6 / 7
Getting Information	3.4 / 7
Communicating with People Outside the Organization	3.4 / 7
Selling or Influencing Others	3.3 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
YouTube	Video creation and editing software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Facebook	Web page creation and editing software	—
Customer information databases	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Appointment scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
Sale processing software	Point of sale POS software	—
Apple iOS	Operating system software	—
Intuit QuickBooks	Accounting software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Linux	Operating system software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor graduates include:

• Hairstylist
• Hair Cutter
• Stylist
• Salon Hair Stylist
• Hairdresser
• Hair Designer
• Electrolysis Operator
• Beauty Operator
• Men’s Custom Hair Piece Consultant
• Salon Customer Experience Specialist
• Image Consultant
• Salon Designer
• Colorist
• Hairpiece Stylist
• Licensed Hair Stylist

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Postsecondary certificate	59.2%
High school diploma or equivalent	22.4%
Less than a high school diploma	8.2%
Some college courses	4.7%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	4.4%
Bachelor’s degree	0.7%
Master’s degree	0.5%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 89% of Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	1,278	89.0%
Men	158	11.0%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	473	32.9%
Asian	38	2.6%
Hispanic or Latino	377	26.3%
Black or African American	447	31.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native	8	0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	5	0.3%
Two or More Races	42	2.9%
Race Unknown	44	3.1%
International Students	2	0.1%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$17,533
4 years	$20,210
5 years	$22,425

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $22,425 — roughly 28% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor graduates earn a median of $20,210 four years after completion — about 47% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services	136,936
Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General	55,875
Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist	42,738
Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist	14,442
Barbering/Barber	12,398
Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist	2,901
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other	2,497
Master Aesthetician/Esthetician	1,882
Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design	1,386
Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager	514
Make-Up Artist/Specialist	426
Electrolysis/Electrology and Electrolysis Technician	351

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.