According to the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure, all cosmetologists, hairstylists, estheticians, manicurists and barbers must obtain an occupational license before they are legally approved to practice in the state. In order to qualify to take the licensing examination, these professionals graduate from an approved barber school or beauty school.
Beauty professionals should select a barber school or beauty school that offers the necessary training hours needed to qualify for licensing examination. The training hours needed for each occupation are as follows:
- Cosmetologist: Sixty Credit Hours
- Barber: Fifty Credit Hours
- Esthetician: Twenty Credit Hours
- Manicurist: Twenty Credit Hours
- Hairstylist: Forty Credit Hours
When researching potential earnings for these beauty professionals, it is important to remember customer gratuity substantially increases take-home pay. However, government publications on salary statistics do not include client tips, so these figures should be viewed merely as base pay rates.
Cosmetologist Salaries in Colorado
In 2013, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment found approximately 11,354 cosmetologists, hairdressers, and hairstylists working in the state. Government projections expect this number to rise to 14,003 by 2023. As a result, these professionals can anticipate a 2.1% annual employment growth rate trend through 2023.
The employment distribution of cosmetologists, hairdressers, and hairstylists throughout major metropolitan areas of the state in 2013 is as follows:
- Denver-Aurora: 6,681
- Colorado Springs: 1,099
- Boulder-Longmont: 1,078
- Fort Collins-Loveland: 911
- Greeley: 279
Statistics published by the Colorado Department of Labor Employment show that cosmetologists earned the following salary and wages averages in 2013:
- Entry-Level: $18,139/yr. or $8.72/hr.
- Mid-Career: $28,622/yr. or $13.76/hr.
- Experienced: $33,863/yr. or $16.28/hr.
A cosmetologist’s pay is often affected by their geographic location of employment. For example, the salary averages for cosmetologists working in metropolitan areas of Colorado in 2013 were as follows:
- Boulder-Longmont: $31,273/yr.
- Denver-Aurora: $29,294/yr.
- Colorado Springs: $26,539/yr.
- Fort Collins-Loveland: $25,561/yr.
- Pueblo: $25,524/yr.
Esthetician Salaries in Colorado
In 2013, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment found roughly 1,255 skincare specialists like estheticians were working in the state. By 2023, this number is anticipated to reach 1,892. Therefore, estheticians can look forward to an average annual employment growth rate of 4.2% through 2023.
Estheticians in Colorado can find in the most job opportunities in the state’s major cities. In 2013, the highest levels of employment for estheticians were located in the Denver-Aurora and Colorado Springs metropolitan areas, respectively.
Pay figures released by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment indicate that estheticians earned the following salary and wage averages in 2013:
- Entry-Level: $17,289/yr. or $8.31/hr.
- Mid-Career: $31,550/yr. or $15.17/hr.
- Experienced: $38,680/yr. or $18.60/hr.
The demand for beauty professionals often varies between local communities, which may influence pay averages therein. In 2013, the salary averages among estheticians working in three of Colorado’s most metropolitan areas were as follows:
- Boulder-Longmont: $37,768/yr.
- Colorado Springs: $32,241/yr.
- Denver-Aurora: $30,534/yr.
Nail Technician Salaries in Colorado
In 2013, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment reported that approximately 1,059 nail technicians were working in the state. By 2023, this numbers is projected to climb to 1,336. Therefore, nail technician job candidates can expect a 2.4% average annual employment growth rate through 2023.
Nail technicians enjoy more job opportunities in areas with high populations. In 2013, the Denver-Aurora and Boulder-Longmont metropolitan areas of Colorado held the largest employment levels of nail technicians in the state.
Surveys conducted by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment reveal that nail technicians earned the following salary and wage averages in 2013:
- Entry-Level: $17,451/yr. or $8.39/hr.
- Mid-Career: $24,078/yr. or $11.58/hr.
- Experienced: $27,392/yr. or $13.17/hr.
Nail technicians often receive higher-end or lower-end pay averages depending on their location. For example, nail technicians working in some of Colorado’s biggest metropolitan areas earned the following averages in 2013:
- Boulder-Longmont: $27,011/yr.
- Denver: $24,785/yr.
- Colorado Springs: $21,782/yr.
Makeup Artist Salaries in Colorado
In 2013, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment found roughly 1,689 personal care and service workers like makeup artists were working in the state. By 2023, the state government expects this number to increase to 2,158. As a result, these workers can look forward to an average annual employment growth rate of 2,5% through 2023.
The top metropolitan areas boasting the highest number of personal care and service workers, including makeup artists, included Denver-Aurora and Colorado Springs in 2013.
Current salary aggregator sites report that the makeup artists in Colorado are earning an average annual salary of $36,000.
According to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, personal care and service workers, such as makeup artists, were earning the following salary and wage averages in 2013:
- Entry-Level: $17,514/yr. or $8.42/hr.
- Mid-Career: $22,896/yr. or $11.01/hr.
- Experienced: $25,586/yr. or $12.30/hr.
In 2013, the top five paying metropolitan areas for personal care and service workers, like makeup artists, employed in Colorado were as follows:
- Boulder-Longmont: $33,699/yr.
- Fort Collins-Loveland: $30,429/yr.
- Pueblo: $27,369/yr.
- Grand Junction: $24,622/yr.
- Colorado Springs: $23,198/yr.
Barber Salaries in Colorado
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics found that barbers were most frequently employed by barbershops and salons. Local employers advertising online job postings for barbers or barber-licensed professionals in Colorado included:
- Cost Cutters
- SmartStyle
- Cool Cuts 4 Kids
- Floyd’s 99 Barbershop
- Cutters Den
One of the best ways for barbers to optimize their salary earning potential in Colorado is by simply gaining as much experience as possible. In fact, barbers working in entry-level positions earn almost half as much as their more experienced co-workers in Colorado.
In 2013, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment found barbers earning the following salary and wage averages:
- Entry-Level: $25,654/yr. or $12.33/hr.
- Mid-Career: $40,724/yr. or $19.58/hr.
- Experienced: $48,259/yr. or $23.20/hr.