Cosmetologist License Requirements, by State
Which states license this trade, what each one costs, how long it takes, and what the job pays there. Pick a state for the full step-by-step.
States licensing it
3 / 3
the rest have no state licence
Cheapest licence
$50
Texas
Highest median pay
$46,600
California
Time to license
5.8 mo
fastest route we found
State by state
| State | Licence needed | Cost | Time | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | State licence | $125 | 5.8 mo | $46,600 |
| Florida | State licence | $95 | 6.9 mo | $39,050 |
| Texas | State licence | $50 | 5.8 mo | $38,050 |
The trade-off
The cheapest place to get licensed and the best place to earn are usually different states. Texas has the lowest total cost at $50; California pays the most at a median of $46,600. If your licence does not transfer, that difference is the price of moving — check the reciprocity terms on each state page before you plan around it.
What this trade pays
National occupational data for Cosmetologist (SOC 39-5012) is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. State medians on this site are pulled from the same program, so the pages are comparable.