Beauty schools in DC are a crucial asset for anyone interested in working in the beauty industry. Right now, the DC Board of Cosmetology requires all cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, and manicurists to become state licensed before practicing their trade in DC.
Completing courses through a board-approved beauty school is the perfect way for aspiring beauty professionals to develop skills and accumulate the training hours need to qualify for licensure in DC. In 2013, DC beauty schools helped the following number of beauty professionals to become licensed by the Board of Barber and Cosmetology:
- 545 Licensed Cosmetologists
- 491 Licensed Barbers
Upon graduating from a beauty school, cosmetology-related professionals are ready to begin a career in DC. Most beauty professionals find employment in local salon and barbershops. These establishments may hire employees on a part-time or full-time basis. However, they may also opt to simply rent chairs or booths to beauty professionals instead of offering salary and wage rates.
While researching salary and wage information for beauty professionals in DC, it is important to remember that these workers often receive customer gratuity of between 10% and 25% per appointment. Some positions may also offer commission bonuses.
However, government published occupational wage reports do not include gratuity and commission amounts. As such, all salary statistics for beauty professionals should be construed as base pay figures instead of actual take home monetary totals.
Cosmetologist Salaries in DC
In 2012, the DC Department of Employment Services reported there were an estimated 882 hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists working in DC. These beauty occupations are projected to experience an average annual growth rate of 1.7% through 2022.
According to the DC Department of Employment Services, cosmetologists working in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area are earning an average annual salary of $28,880.
As of January 2015, employers advertising online jobs for personal care and service occupations, including cosmetologists, were offering the following average salaries and wages in DC:
- Entry-Level: $20,280/yr. or $9.75/hr.
- Mid-Career: $27,756/yr. or $13.34/hr.
- Experienced: $34,450/yr. or $16.56/hr.
At that same time, job candidates looking for cosmetology positions in DC were interested in earning within the following salary ranges:
- $35,000-$49,999: 86%
- $20,000-$34,999: 71%
- $50,000-$64,999: 29%
Esthetician Salaries in DC
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that approximately 130 skincare specialists or estheticians were employed in DC. At that time, estheticians were earning an average annual salary of $39,820 and an average hourly wage of $19.14. These exceptional pay figures made DC the second highest paying state for estheticians in the country.
Jobseekers looking for esthetician positions in DC should start searching for opportunities in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area as this region held the seventh highest employment level of estheticians among all other metropolitan districts in the country in 2013. At that time, the federal government found roughly 840 skincare specialists working here.
Here are the average salaries and wages for estheticians working in the metropolitan and nonmetropolitan sections of Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area in 2013:
- Metropolitan Area: $39,850/yr. or $19.16/hr.
- Nonmetropolitan Area: $39,170/yr. or $18.83/hr.
Nail Technician Salaries in DC
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there were an estimated 60 nail technicians employed in DC. However, this number does not include self-employed nail technicians. Local employers that recently posted online job advertisements for nail technicians in the DC area include:
- Lord & Taylor Department Salon
- VarnishLane, LLC
- Last Tangle in Washington Salon
- Life Time Fitness
- Salon D&C Suites and Spa
- Edge Spa and Salon
As of May 2013, nail technicians in DC were earning an average annual salary of $27,060 and an average hourly wage of $13.01. One of the most important factors affecting nail technician salaries in DC is the amount of work experience an individual worker has acquired previous to hire. For example:
- Entry-Level: $18,070/yr. or $8.69/hr.
- Mid-Career: $24,980/yr. or $12.01/hr.
- Experienced: $42,390/yr. or $20.38/hr.
Here are the average salaries and wages for nail technicians working in the metropolitan and nonmetropolitan sections of Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area in 2013:
- Metropolitan: $24,250/yr. or $11.66/hr.
- Nonmetropolitan: $25,150/yr. or $12.09/hr.
Makeup Artist Salaries in DC
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics found the top three industries with the highest levels of employment for theatrical and performance makeup artists included: motion picture and video industries, personal care services, and performing arts companies.
Examples of local employers that recently posted online job advertisements for makeup artists in the DC area are as follows:
- Adamis Group USA
- Sephora
- Blow Out Diva
- Estee Lauder Companies
- Beauty in a Beat
- Iredale Mineral Cosmetics
As of January 2015, employers advertising online jobs for personal care and service occupations, including makeup artists, were offering the following average salaries and wages in DC:
- Entry-Level: $20,280/yr. or $9.75/hr.
- Mid-Career: $27,756/yr. or $13.34/hr.
- Experienced: $34,450/yr. or $16.56/hr.
At that same time, job candidates looking for theatrical and performance makeup artist positions in DC were interested in earning within the following salary ranges:
- $5,000-$19,999: 33%
- $50,000-$64,999: 33%
- $65,000-$79,999: 33%
Salary aggregator sites report that makeup artists employed in DC are currently earning an average annual salary of $45,000.
Barber Salaries in DC
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the top paying industries of employment for barbers included: psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, personal care services, and employment services.
Examples of local employers that recently posted online job advertisements for barbers in the DC area are as follows:
- Images Hair Salon
- Cartoon Cuts
- Grooming Lounge
- Jacquie’s House of Beauty
- Aveda
- Bubbles Salon
In May 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics found that barbers employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area earned an average annual salary of $26,810 and an average hourly wage of $12.89.
Since a barber’s salary earning potential in DC is largely dependent upon their level of experience, here are additional salary and wage averages according to career trajectory:
- Entry-Level: $16,540/yr. or $7.95/hr.
- Mid-Career: $26,170/yr. or $12.58/hr.
- Experienced: $40,280/yr. or $19.37/hr.