Did You Know?
A single healthy strand of hair can hold up to about 100 grams, roughly the weight of a deck of cards, before it snaps.
The Numbers Behind the Career
There were about 670,800 barber, hairstylist, and cosmetologist jobs in the U.S. in 2025.
The median annual salary for barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists was $35,880. Nearly half of the professionals in this field are self-employed, so earnings vary widely.
About 80,300 openings for barbers, hairstylist, and cosmetologists are projected each year over the next decade.
Where This Career Is Headed
Cosmetology is a field where technology is more likely to support stylists than replace them, because cutting, coloring, and styling hair require skilled human hands and a personal connection. At the same time, AI and digital tools are changing how stylists work: virtual try-on apps let clients preview a new cut or color before committing, and smart booking systems help stylists manage their schedules and businesses. Social media has become a main way stylists find new clients and build a reputation, helping more run independent businesses. Growing demand for expertise in textured and curly hair, for cleaner and more sustainable products, and for services that meet the needs of an aging population is also expanding what the profession looks like.
AI-powered virtual try-on and color-matching tools will help stylists show clients realistic previews, leading to clearer expectations and happier results.
Rising demand for stylists skilled in textured, curly, and coily hair, supported by laws in many states that protect natural hairstyles at school and work, will create strong opportunities for stylists who specialize in these services.
Social media and online booking platforms will continue to make it easier for stylists to build their own brands and run successful independent businesses.
Education & Certification
To become a hairdresser or cosmetologist, you must complete a state-approved cosmetology program and pass a state licensing exam, which usually includes a written test and a hands-on skills test. Beauty schools, technical colleges, and community colleges offer programs, and many full-time students finish in about a year. Some high schools offer cosmetology through career and technical education programs, letting students begin earning training hours before graduation. A few states also allow people to train through an apprenticeship in a working salon instead of attending school. Once licensed, stylists in many states take continuing education classes to renew their licenses and stay current on safety and new techniques.
Beyond the required license, optional certifications can help stylists stand out. Many product companies and industry organizations offer advanced training in areas like hair color, extensions, curly and textured hair, and specialty treatments. Barbering usually requires its own separate license, and some cosmetologists add licenses in esthetics (skin care) or nail technology to expand the services they can offer.
To Prepare...
Take classes in art, chemistry, and business to build a design foundation, understand how hair products work, and prepare to run your own chair someday.
Ask whether your high school or regional career center offers a cosmetology program, which may let you earn hours toward your license before you graduate.
Practice styling on willing friends and family (with a trusted adult's guidance for any heated tools) and photograph your work to start building a portfolio.
