Beauty schools in Illinois are the key to providing cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technologists, and barbers with the training hours they need to qualify for licensure by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. The license requirements needed for each of these respective beauty professionals are as follows:
- Cosmetologists: 1,500 training hours
- Barbers: 1,500 training hours
- Estheticians: 750 training hours
- Nail Technicians: 350 training hours
Even unlicensed beauty professionals, like makeup artists, typically complete courses through a local cosmetology school to stay up-to-date with industry skill standards, become competitive in today’s job market, and illustrate occupational competency to future employers and clients.
The salon industry is a major employer of beauty professionals in Illinois. Working in salons often means that workers may hired for part-time jobs, full-time jobs, or they may be offered the option to rent/lease salon chairs and booths.
Aside from set wage and salary rates, beauty professionals in Illinois also can receive additional compensations through commission and customer tips. Common gratuity amounts generally range between 10% and 25% for each appointment or event.
Government pay reports do not include commission and tip totals even though these extraneous income sources account for a substantial portion of a beauty professional’s take home pay in Illinois.
Cosmetologist Salaries in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports that 25,152 hairstylists and cosmetologists are currently working in the state. These occupations are expected to by 22.2% in the coming years, which should result in around 1,040 future annual job openings.
The following areas holding the largest numbers of employed hairstylists and cosmetologists in Illinois:
- Cook County: 12,366
- Du Page County: 2,679
- Lake County: 1,520
- DeKalb-Elgin-Aurora: 1,103
- Will County: 1,034
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists are earning the following wage and salary averages in Illinois:
- Entry-Level: $9.24/hr. or $19,222/yr.
- Mid-Career: $11.76/hr. or $24,450/yr.
- Experienced: $14.79/hr. or $30,766/yr.
The areas in Illinois boasting high median wages and salaries for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists include:
- Springfield Area: $14.48/hr. or $30,111/yr.
- Du Page County: $12.43/hr. or $25,864/yr.
- Edwardsville Area: $12.29/hr. or $25,562/yr.
- Cook County: $11.98/hr. or $24,909/yr.
- Champaign Area: $11.91/hr. or $24,769/yr.
Esthetician Salaries in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports there are 1,889 skincare specialists, like estheticians, currently working statewide. The occupations can expect an employment growth rate of 32.2%, which is predicted to create around 95 future annual job openings.
The regions of Illinois with the largest numbers of employed skincare specialists include:
- Cook County: 913
- Du Page County: 200
- Lake County: 118
- DeKalb-Elgin-Aurora: 88
- Will County: 76
Skincare specialists, including estheticians, are the earning the following wage and salary averages in Illinois:
- Entry-Level: $9.88/hr. or $20,559/yr.
- Mid-Career: $12.63/hr. or $26,276/yr.
- Experienced: $16.74/hr. or $34,813/yr.
The regions of Illinois offering high median wages and salaries for skincare specialists in Illinois include:
- Cook County: $14.37/hr. or $29,899/yr.
- Du Page County: $13.33/hr. or $27,718/yr.
- Rockford Area: $13.08/hr. or $27,213/yr.
- Lake County: $12.37/hr. or $25,732/yr.
- Will County: $11.58/hr. or $24,084/yr.
Nail Technologist Salaries in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports there are 2,775 nail technicians, like manicurists, currently working in the state. This occupation is projected to undergo an employment growth rate of 23%. This fast-paced growth is expected to generate 114 future annual job openings for these beauty professionals.
The areas of Illinois with the biggest numbers of employed nail technicians include:
- Cook County: 1,349
- Du Page County: 290
- Lake County: 179
- DeKalb-Elgin-Aurora: 129
- Will County: 116
Nail technicians are presently earning the following wage and salary averages in Illinois:
- Entry-Level: $9.21/hr. or $19,151/yr.
- Mid-Career: $10.64/hr. or $22,131/yr.
- Experienced: $15.19/hr. or $31,588/yr.
Here is a short list of locations that are offering high median wages and salaries to nail technicians:
- Louis-Bellevue Area: $14.57/hr. or $30,298/yr.
- Bloomington Area: $11.36/hr. or $23,620/yr.
- Will County: $11.23/hr. or $23,360/yr.
- Cook County: $11.09/hr. or $23,072/yr.
- Du Page County: $10.97/hr. or $22,821/yr.
Makeup Artist Salaries in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports there are 35 professional makeup artists currently working in state. This occupation can look forward to an employment growth rate of 11.4. Right now, Cook County houses the largest number of employed professional makeup artists in the Illinois.
Professional makeup artists are earing the following wage and salary averages in Illinois:
- Entry-Level: $9.05/hr. or $18,834/yr.
- Mid-Career: $11.54/hr. or $24,004/yr.
- Experienced: $14.02/hr. or $29,169/yr.
By comparison, here are the wage and salary averages for professional makeup artists employed in Cook County, Illinois:
- Entry-Level: $8.95/hr. or $18,617/yr.
- Mid-Career: $10.85/hr. or $22,567/yr.
- Experienced: $13.90/hr. or $28,909/yr.
Barber Salaries in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports there are currently 2,044 barbers working in the state. Beauty professionals in this occupation can anticipate an employment growth rate of 4.6%, which will help to produce 46 future annual job openings.
The regions of Illinois that presently contain the greatest number of barbers include:
- Cook County: 1,049
- Du Page County: 203
- Lake County: 117
- Springfield Area: 77
- Rockford Area: 67
Right now, barbers are earning the following wage and salary averages in Illinois:
- Entry-Level: $10.87/hr. or $22,607/yr.
- Mid-Career: $13.43/hr. or $27,937/yr.
- Experienced: $39.69/hr. or $82,562/yr.