The best way to break into Connecticut’s exciting salon industry is to graduate from one of its top-notch beauty schools. Right now, the state features over 100 beauty schools, as well as vocational and technical schools that offer cosmetology-related curricula that are approved by the Connecticut Department of Health.
Only hairdressers, cosmetologists and barbers are required to graduate from an approved barber school or beauty school to gain licensure to practice from the Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians. The current training requirements needed to apply for licensure are:
- Hairdressers need at least 1,500 training hours earned from an approved beauty school
- Cosmetologist need at least 1,500 training hours earned from an approved beauty school
- Barbers need at least 1,000 training hours earned from an approved barber school or beauty school
However, other unlicensed beauty professionals in Connecticut, like estheticians, nail technicians, and makeup artists, also typically complete beauty school courses to showcase their skill and proficiency in the field to potential employers and clients.
Naturally, beauty professionals are interested in optimizing their salary earnings. Two major ways that beauty workers can impact their occupational pay is through experience and excellent customer service.
Most employees in the salon industry are awarded gratuity from their clientele. Tips between 10%-25% per appointment are an industry standard. Since government reports on occupational wages do not account for this additional income, researchers should consider this data to be strictly base pay rates.
Cosmetologist Salaries in Connecticut
According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, there are approximately 10,030 hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists employed throughout the state in 2012.
However, these occupations are projected to expand by an annual average of 0.5% through 2022. This employment growth trend equates to an average of 289 job openings annually for cosmetologists during this ten-year period.
Recent reports by the Connecticut Department of Labor indicate that cosmetologists are earning an average annual salary of $29,182 and an average hourly wage of $14.04. The average entry-level hourly wage is $8.79 while the average mid-range wage is $9.16-$17.03.
Regional salary and wage averages for cosmetologists employed in Connecticut are as follows:
- New Haven: $32,930/yr. or $15.83/hr.
- Hartford: $29,665/yr. or $14.26/hr.
- Bridgeport/Stamford: $29,051/yr. or $13.97/hr.
- Waterbury: $27,146/yr. or $13.05/hr.
- New London/Norwich: $26,360/yr. or $12.68/hr.
Esthetician Salaries in Connecticut
According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, there were nearly 760 skincare specialists, such as estheticians, working across the state in 2012.
Yet, these skincare professionals are predicted to increase by an annual average of 2.6% through 2022. As a result of this positive growth change, estheticians can anticipate competing over an average of 29 job openings annually.
Statistics presented by the Connecticut Department of Labor show that estheticians are earning an average annual salary of $33,988 and an average hourly wage of $16.33. The average entry-level hourly wage is $8.88 and the average mid-range hourly wage is $9.13-$21.13.
Regional salary and wage wages for estheticians employed in Connecticut are as follows:
- Bridgeport/Stamford: $50,111/yr. or $24.09/hr.
- Torrington: $29,887/yr. or $14.37/hr.
- Hartford: $26,662/yr. or $12.82/hr.
- New London/Norwich: $26,632/yr. or $12.81/hr.
Nail Technician Salaries in Connecticut
According to the Connecticut Department of Connecticut, there were an estimated 2,300 nail technicians working throughout Connecticut as of 2012.
However, the steady demand for nail technicians is projected to increase their workforce by an annual average of 0.6% through 2022. This yearly growth rate is expected to create an average of 34 job openings annually for nail technicians during this forecast period.
Current pay findings released by the Connecticut Department of Labor reveal that nail technicians are earning an average annual salary of $20,808 and an average hourly wage of $10.01. The average entry-level hourly wage is $8.82 and the average mid-range hourly wage is $8.84-$9.93.
Regional salary and wage averages for nail technicians employed in Connecticut are as follows:
- Hartford: $36,145/yr. or $17.38/hr.
- New London-Norwich: $24,899/yr. or $11.97/hr.
- New Haven: $24,758/yr. or $11.90/hr.
- Bridgeport/Stamford: $19,730/yr. or $9.48/hr.
- Danbury: $18,581/yr. or $8.93/hr.
Makeup Artist Salaries in Connecticut
According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, there were around 813 personal care and service workers, including makeup artists, working across the state in 2012.
Occupational projections compiled by the state government indicate that professionals like makeup artists will experience an 8.6% growth spurt through 2022. This employment growth trend is likely to generate an average of 30 job openings throughout this ten-year time span.
Current salary aggregator sites report that makeup artists employed in Connecticut are earning an average annual salary of $41,000.
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics released the following regional salary averages for personal care and service workers, including makeup artists, in Connecticut:
- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford: $27,420/yr.
- New Haven: $25,170/yr.
- Norwich-New London: $20,300/yr.
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk: $20,000/yr.
Barber Salaries in Connecticut
According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, there were approximately 1,240 barbers working throughout the state in 2012.
The continual need for barber services in Connecticut is expected to result in an annual average employment growth rate of 0.6% through 2022. As this occupation continues to inflate, jobseeking barbers can look forward to an average of 40 job openings annually within this ten-year timeframe.
Data collected by the Connecticut Department of Labor concludes that barbers are earning an average annual salary of $25,645 and an average hourly wage of $12.32. The average entry-level hourly wage is $10.39 and the average mid-range hourly wage is $10.53-$13.52.