Cosmetologist Salary in Florida
Statewide median pay from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and what it costs to get into the trade here.
Median annual
$39,050
statewide
Median hourly
$18.78
per hour
Jobs in state
21,820
people employed
Cost to enter
$95
licence + training
What the licence costs against the pay
At the state median, the licence and training pay for themselves in roughly 0.0 months of work. That is the number to compare when you are choosing between states — a cheaper licence in a lower-paying state can still be the slower route to break even.
Pay in other states
| State | Median annual | Licence cost | Break-even |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $46,600 | $125 | 0 mo |
| Florida | $39,050 | $95 | 0 mo |
| Texas | $38,050 | $50 | 0 mo |
How to read these numbers
- Median, not average. A handful of very high earners drag the average up; the median is the middle person.
- Statewide. Metro pay in this trade often runs 10–25% above the state figure, and rural areas below it.
- Before overtime. BLS base pay excludes overtime and shift differentials, which matter a lot in this trade.
Sources
- BLS OEWS state table (archive snapshot)Median annual wage for Cosmetologist in Florida, May 2024
- https://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/cosmetology/“The Board of Cosmetology is responsible for licensing and regulating cosmetology.”
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/cosmo/documents/COSMO1_Initial_License_Based_on_Florida_Education.pdf“Complete at least 1,000 hours of training at a Florida cosmetology school and be determined competent by a school official”
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/cosmo/documents/COSMO1_Initial_License_Based_on_Florida_Education.pdf“Pay $45.00 fee (make check payable to Department of Business and Professional Regulation).”
- https://www.flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=0&tid=26362289&type=1&file=61G5-24.002.doc“(b) The examination fee for licensure as a cosmetologist by examination shall be fifty dollars ($50.00).”
- https://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/cosmetology/“$45.00”
- https://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/cosmetology/“Licenses expire October 31st every even year.”
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/cosmo/documents/Reciprocity-05.pdf“At this time the Board of Cosmetology does not have reciprocal licensing agreements with any other state.”