According to the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, there are approximately seventy-five beauty schools in the state offering education and training to enthusiastic students interested in careers as cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, makeup artists, and barbers.
The highest concentration of beauty schools in Alabama is in Birmingham. However, training and education programs geared toward beauty professionals are offered through universities, colleges, community colleges, technical colleges, and cosmetology academies found in major cities and small communities alike.
Salon professionals can work as traditional salaried or hourly employees, or they may work on a commission basis. Most eventually rent a station or chair in an existing salon so as to work more independently, and some even go on to open a completely independent salon of their own.
Tipping adds significantly to a beauty professional’s take home earnings. It is important to note that figures shown here do not include the 15-25% gratuity that is standard in the salon industry.
Cosmetologist Salaries in Alabama
Beauty schools in Alabama help future cosmetologists receive the tools and training required to obtain an occupational license to practice in the state. According to the Alabama Department of Labor, individuals intending to become a cosmetologist, hairdresser or hairstylist must complete:
- A cosmetology course between 1,200 credit hours and 1,500 clock hours of continuous training or an equivalent level of study or
- An approved apprenticeship program by a cosmetology salon that provide at least 3,000 training hours over a maximum of three years
Once aspiring cosmetologists have complete beauty school training and pass examination by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, they can expect to earn the following salary and wage averages:
- Entry-Level: $16,730/yr. or $8.05/hr.
- Mean: $23,620/yr. or $11.35/hr.
- Experienced: $27,060/yr. or $13.01/hr.
Esthetician Salaries in Alabama
Many aspiring skincare professionals enroll in beauty schools in Alabama to become estheticians. Although estheticians are not legally required to hold an occupational license to practice in the state, most employers prefer to hire estheticians that have completed one or two years of training that involves on-the-job experience.
According to current salary aggregator sites, estheticians in Alabama earn an average salary of $40,000/yr. Since job opportunities for estheticians are more prevalent in larger cities like Mobile, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported the following salary and wage percentiles for this location:
- 10th Percentile: $20,530/yr. or $9.87/hr.
- 25th Percentile: $23,210/yr. or $11.16/hr.
- Median Percentile: $26,880/yr. or $12.92/hr.
- 75th Percentile: $30,170/yr. or $14.51/hr.
- 90th Percentile: $43,100/yr. or $20.72/hr.
Nail Technician Salaries in Alabama
Although nail technicians do not need an occupational license to work in Alabama, most of them participate in beauty school programs to receive the one to two years of supervised training and apprenticeship opportunities preferred by employers.
Recent wage reports by the state government indicate that nail technicians and manicurists that complete enough training to land a job can anticipate earning the following salary and wage averages:
- Entry-Level: $16,620/yr. or $7.99/hr.
- Mean: $21,380/yr. or $10.28/hr.
- Experienced: $23,760/yr. or $11.42/hr.
Makeup Artist Salaries in Alabama
Makeup artists are not licensed professionals in Alabama. Therefore, in lieu of an occupational license, most makeup artists complete a beauty school program recognized by the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering to prove competency in the field.
Current salary aggregator sites are reporting that makeup artists employed in Alabama are earning an average salary of $41,000/yr.
Although the Alabama Department of Labor does not publish wage findings specifically for makeup artists, here are the salary and wage averages for personal care and service workers, which include makeup artists:
- Entry-Level: $17,020/yr. or $8.19/hr.
- Mean: $22,495/yr. or $10.82/hr.
- Experienced: $25,237/yr. or $12.13/hr.
Barber Salaries in Alabama
Only barbers that want to use the title “cosmetologist” must pass examination by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering to receive an occupational license. Despite this freedom for regulation, the Alabama Department of Labor recommends that barbers use vocational or beauty schools to receive training, job-related experience, and even associate degrees.
A barber’s earning potential in Alabama is often impacted by the amount of training they accumulate prior to hire. To exemplify this fact, here are the wage and salary averages for barbers according to experience:
- Entry-Level: $16,800/yr. or $8.08/hr.
- Mean: $24,400/yr. or $11.73/hr.
- Experienced: $28,200/yr. or $13.56/hr.