Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 12.04. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 1,912 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 1,713 | 135,537 | $23,574 | $26,307 | $9,500 1141 programs |
| Associate's degree | 193 | 1,399 | $23,214 | $27,014 | $12,265 7 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 2 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Master's degree | 1 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 1 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Undergraduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose City College CA · Public · 20 graduates measured | $54,427 | $39,039 | Data unavailable |
| The Esthetic Institute VA · Private, for-profit · 82 graduates measured | $44,457 | $38,044 | $9,083 |
| Saddleback College CA · Public · 41 graduates measured | $39,816 | Data unavailable | $11,250 |
| Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Seattle WA · Private, for-profit · 67 graduates measured | $39,239 | $43,507 | $10,555 |
| MAK Beauty Institute GA · Private, for-profit · 24 graduates measured | $38,152 | $24,841 | Data unavailable |
| Indiana Wellness College IN · Private, for-profit · 47 graduates measured | $37,765 | Data unavailable | $8,232 |
| Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Shoreline WA · Private, for-profit · 82 graduates measured | $36,985 | $38,683 | $9,368 |
| Barber & Beauty Institute of New York NY · Private, for-profit · 52 graduates measured | $36,915 | $35,980 | $6,544 |
| Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics VA · Private, for-profit · 25 graduates measured | $36,615 | $37,985 | $12,564 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Federal Way WA · Private, for-profit · 233 graduates measured | $35,223 | $35,881 | $10,691 |
| San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc CA · Private, for-profit · 158 graduates measured | $34,512 | $38,673 | $6,333 |
| Cinta Aveda Institute CA · Private, for-profit · 229 graduates measured | $34,358 | $37,484 | $6,333 |
| Lotus Professional College VA · Private, for-profit · 21 graduates measured | $34,327 | Data unavailable | $9,488 |
| Aveda Institute-Denver CO · Private, for-profit · 363 graduates measured | $34,300 | $39,029 | $9,833 |
| Vski Cosmetology School SC · Private, nonprofit · 28 graduates measured | $34,278 | Data unavailable | $9,010 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Associate's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clover Park Technical College WA · Public · 29 graduates measured | $31,122 | $33,290 | $12,265 |
| Honolulu Community College HI · Public · 19 graduates measured | $30,946 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Pomona Unified School District Adult and Career Education CA · Public · 17 graduates measured | $25,928 | $17,458 | Data unavailable |
| Northeast Alabama Community College AL · Public · 16 graduates measured | $25,159 | Data unavailable | $4,752 |
| Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers TN · Private, for-profit · 38 graduates measured | $24,645 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Hollywood Institute FL · Private, for-profit · 18 graduates measured | $24,516 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Spokane Community College WA · Public · 25 graduates measured | $24,442 | Data unavailable | $19,759 |
| Houston City College TX · Public · 18 graduates measured | $24,421 | $22,631 | $24,841 |
| Douglas Education Center PA · Private, for-profit · 91 graduates measured | $24,344 | $32,245 | $12,000 |
| Central Piedmont Community College NC · Public · 26 graduates measured | $24,015 | $26,550 | Data unavailable |
| Wake Technical Community College NC · Public · 26 graduates measured | $24,001 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Remington College-Dallas Campus TX · Private, nonprofit · 54 graduates measured | $22,761 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Remington College-Cleveland Campus OH · Private, nonprofit · 54 graduates measured | $22,761 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Remington College-North Houston Campus · Private, nonprofit · 54 graduates measured | $22,761 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Central New Mexico Community College NM · Public · 20 graduates measured | $22,359 | $27,398 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal service managers, all other | $69,770 | +6.2% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of personal service workers | $48,590 | +6.3% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Barbers | $38,210 | +3.3% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists | $35,790 | +7.7% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Makeup artists, theatrical and performance | $97,150 | +6.1% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Manicurists and pedicurists | $35,760 | +9.2% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Shampooers | $32,600 | +5.6% | No formal educational credential |
| Skincare specialists | $45,330 | +8.8% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (13)
- 12.0401 Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General
- 12.0402 Barbering/Barber
- 12.0404 Electrolysis/Electrology and Electrolysis Technician
- 12.0406 Make-Up Artist/Specialist
- 12.0407 Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design
- 12.0408 Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist
- 12.0409 Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist
- 12.0410 Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist
- 12.0411 Permanent Cosmetics/Makeup and Tattooing
- 12.0412 Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager
- 12.0413 Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor
- 12.0414 Master Aesthetician/Esthetician
- 12.0499 Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other