Illinois Cosmetologist Salary

The number of cosmetology jobs in Illinois is expected to grow at a rate of 10.93% between 2012 and 2022, according to the state’s Department of Employment Security. An average of more than 870 hairdresser, stylist, nail technician and skincare specialist jobs will be created each year during this ten-year period.

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At $24,450, the median 2103 cosmetologist salary in Illinois was slightly higher than the national median. Experienced professionals earned $33,090 on average while those entering the workforce made an average of $18,600 a year. The Springfield area was the third highest paying metropolitan area in the country according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

These salaries for cosmetologists working a hairstylists, and hairdressers are typically an underestimate of their take home pay, since tipping is customary in this field.

Cosmetology Salaries Throughout Regions of Illinois

The median cosmetologist salaries in Illinois varied by more than $6,400 in different regions of the state. The highest median and experienced salaries by far were in Illinois’ central region:

Illinois Area
Entry
Experienced
Central
$20160
$41022
East central
$19687
$30037
North central
$18117
$25878
Northeast
$18721
$33853
Northern Stateline
$19307
$30467
Northwestern
$18175
$24015
Southern
$20080
$27300
Southwestern
$18467
$29803
West central
$18007
$26092

The BLS breaks down the 2013 Illinois cosmetology salary levels by percentiles in key regions of the state:

Area name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Bloomington-Normal IL
310
27850
Cape Girardeau-Jackson MO-IL
100
28620
Champaign-Urbana IL
190
27210
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville IL Metropolitan Division
11940
28920
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville IL-IN-WI
14830
28440
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL
580
22650
Decatur IL
90
23850
Kankakee-Bradley IL
90
26940
Lake County-Kenosha County IL-WI Metropolitan Division
1750
27140
Peoria IL
370
20460
Rockford IL
340
26700
St. Louis MO-IL
3520
26300
Springfield IL
420
37220
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area
240
23600
West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area
400
22370
South Illinois nonmetropolitan area
220
23940

Although cosmetologists are trained to work on nails, salons typically hire professionals such as manicurists and pedicurists to perform nail treatments. The BLS has separate tables that delineate the 2013 salaries of these nail specialists:

Area name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Bloomington-Normal IL
Estimate not released
26560
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville IL Metropolitan Division
2140
27420
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville IL-IN-WI
2540
26210
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL
Estimate not released
31150
Lake County-Kenosha County IL-WI Metropolitan Division
330
19290
St. Louis MO-IL
160
22160

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