Alaska’s Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development legally requires anyone practicing as a hairdresser, esthetician, manicurist, permanent cosmetic colorist or barber to obtain an occupational license from the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers.
Career-driven individuals with a knack for enhancing personal appearances often complete beauty school programs in their desired specialty to qualify for occupational licensure in Alaska.
According to Alaska’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development, as of June 2014, the State Board of Barbers and Hairdressers approved the occupational licensure of the following beauty professionals:
- 2,463 hairdressers
- 891 manicurists
- 550 estheticians
Cosmetologist Salaries in Alaska
A cosmetologist or beautician is an all-encompassing beauty professional with several spheres of specialization. They often perform as hairstylists, barbers, estheticians, electrologists, nail technicians and makeup artists. Cosmetologists that intend to work as hairdressers in Alaska must complete:
- 1,650 training hours from an approved beauty program or school or
- 2,000 training hours from an approved apprenticeship program
Current salary aggregator sites report that cosmetologists in Alaska typically earn an average salary of $28,000/yr. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists employed in 2013 earned the following wage averages:
- Alaska Statewide: $13.06/hr. to $15.52/hr.
- Anchorage Metro: $11.80/hr. to $14.02/hr.
- Southeast Region: $15.97/hr. to $20.63/hr.
Esthetician Salaries in Alaska
Cosmetologists and skincare specialists that want to work as estheticians in Alaska often enter into beauty school programs to become eligible for examination by the State Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. Passing scores on the examination results in occupational licensure.
The beauty program should include:
- 350 training hours from an approved beauty program or school or
- 350 training hours from an approved apprenticeship program
Current salary aggregator sites report that estheticians in Alaska typically earn an average salary of $65,000/yr. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development found that in 2013, personal care and service workers like estheticians earned within the following wage ranges:
- Alaska Statewide: $11.24/hr. to $16.32/hr.
- Anchorage Metro: $10.26/hr. to $13.58/hr.
Nail Technician Salaries in Alaska
Cosmetologists and nail technicians that provide manicurist services in Alaska must first complete twelve training hours from a beauty school or program approved by the State Board of Barbers and Hairdressers before they can become eligible for occupational licensure.
Current salary aggregator sites report that manicurists in Alaska typically earn an average salary of $25,000/yr. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development found that in 2013, manicurists earned the following wage averages:
- Alaska Statewide: $12.14/hr. to $17.84/hr.
- Anchorage Metro: $12.16/hr. to $18.24/hr.
Makeup Artist Salaries in Alaska
Presently, makeup artists in Alaska do not need a professional license to practice. However, those that intend to provide permanent cosmetic coloring must complete 380 training hours from an approved apprenticeship program before they are qualified for licensure.
Current salary aggregator sites report that makeup artists in Alaska typically earn an average salary of $30,000/yr. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development found that in 2013, personal care and service workers like makeup artists earned within the following wage percentiles:
- 10th Percentile (Alaska): $8.41/hr.
- 10th Percentile (Anchorage Metro): $8.30/hr.
- Median (Alaska): $11.71/hr.
- Median (Anchorage Metro): $10.69/hr.
- 90th Percentile (Alaska): $21.82/hr.
- 90th Percentile (Anchorage Metro): $18.00/hr.
Barber Salaries in Alaska
In Alaska, barbers are held to the same professional standards and regulations as hairdressers.
As such, they must either complete 1,650 training hours from a board-approved beauty school or program or finish 2,000 training hours from a likewise approved apprenticeship program in order to receive an occupational license from the State Board of Barbers and Hairdressers.
Current salary aggregator sites report that barbers in Alaska typically earn an average salary of $27,000/yr. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development found that in 2013, barbers earned an average wage range between $16.61/hr. and $19.13/hr.