Tennessee Cosmetologist Salary

Data from the Tennessee Department of Labor shows that there were around 9,500 cosmetologists employed throughout the state in 2012 working as hairdressers, hairstylists, manicurists and skin care specialists. The field is expected to see growth in the next few years, with some 11,330 cosmetologists expected to be licensed in Tennessee by 2022. This increase represents a 19% total increase over ten years, resulting in an average of 410 job openings per year.

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Hourly Wage and Annual Salary Scale for Cosmetologists in Tennessee

Average salaries and hourly wage statistics for cosmetologists in Tennessee at various levels of experience are as follows:

  • Entry-level – $17,330/year
    • $8.25/hour
  • Mid-level – $23,705/year
    • $11.40/hour
  • Experienced – $32,486/year
    • $15.60/hour

Tennessee has recently undergone a change in how cosmetologists are licensed. As of July 2014, The Board of Cosmetology and the Board of Barber Examiners merged into the Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners. Cosmetologists in Tennessee must now apply for licensure through an online application to the new board.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has constructed a more detailed table of average regional salaries and hourly wages in Tennessee (2013):

Area name
Employment(1)
Annual mean wage
Chattanooga TN-GA
610
26000
Clarksville TN-KY
170
24550
Jackson TN
50
24270
Johnson City TN
410
25040
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol TN-VA
Estimate not released
33640
Knoxville TN
770
26550
Memphis TN-MS-AR
1390
28490
Morristown TN
30
25060
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin TN
1560
29090
Western Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
130
22300
South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
160
25350
North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
120
25160
Eastern Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
60
18010

In addition to licensing cosmetologists and barbers, the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners is responsible for licensing manicurists and pedicurists throughout the state. The regional wage and salary breakdown for manicurists and pedicurists can be found on the following table, provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2013):

Area name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Knoxville TN
110
23630
Memphis TN-MS-AR
130
29310
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin TN
Estimate not released
33290

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