New Jersey Cosmetologist Salary

The number of cosmetology jobs in New Jersey is increasing 1.37 times faster than the national average. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development expects the rate of growth to be 17.8% between 2012 and 2022.

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The average 2013 cosmetologist salary in New Jersey was $29,440. This was more than $1900 greater than the national average. Cosmetologists in the 25th percentile earned $20,680 on average, while those in the 75th percentile averaged $35,320.

Cosmetologist Salary Levels in New Jersey Counties

Cosmetologist salaries in New Jersey varied by county. The highest average salary was in Mercer County, while the highest salary in the 75th percentile was in Warren County:

County
Average
75th Percentile
Mercer
$28270
$31160
Salem
$27460
$31510
Warren
$26340
$33480
Cape May
$26280
$31520
Atlantic
$25910
$30960
Cumberland
$24450
$28480

The take home pay of cosmetologists, hairdressers, and hairstylists is usually greater than these figures indicate, since most customers tip at least 10%.

Job Growth and Employment Levels of Hair and Nail Professionals in New Jersey

New Jersey had the fifth highest concentration of cosmetology, hairdresser, and hairstylist jobs in the country in 2013 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In particular, the Vineland area had the highest level of employment of any metropolitan area in the country that year.

The 27,250 hairdressers, hairstylists, and manicurists employed in New Jersey in 2012 were scattered throughout the state. No one county had more than 18.9% of these professionals. Monmouth County had the highest employment level of hair and nail professionals in New Jersey followed closely by Bergen County.

The BLS provides a detailed analysis of New Jersey cosmetology salary levels in key regions as of 2013:

Area name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton PA-NJ
1700
23740
Atlantic City-Hammonton NJ
370
25910
Camden NJ Metropolitan Division
2250
26210
Edison-New Brunswick NJ Metropolitan Division
4320
31870
Newark-Union NJ-PA Metropolitan Division
2460
32150
New York-White Plains-Wayne NY-NJ Metropolitan Division
15270
31960
Ocean City NJ
220
26270
Trenton-Ewing NJ
560
28270
Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton NJ
470
24440
Wilmington DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division
1280
34090

While cosmetologists are trained to beautify nails, salons generally hire nail specialists to perform this function. Because of this, the BLS places manicurists and pedicurists in a separate occupational category and provides 2013 salary data as follows:

Area name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton PA-NJ
140
23650
Atlantic City-Hammonton NJ
Estimate not released
19810
Camden NJ Metropolitan Division
Estimate not released
22550
Edison-New Brunswick NJ Metropolitan Division
2340
25240
Newark-Union NJ-PA Metropolitan Division
1640
21230
New York-White Plains-Wayne NY-NJ Metropolitan Division
Estimate not released
18160
Ocean City NJ
50
22220
Trenton-Ewing NJ
Estimate not released
23110
Wilmington DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division
Estimate not released
21960

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