Best Beauty Schools in Sterling, Illinois (2026)

Cosmetologist training in Sterling, Illinois prepares students for entry-level work across the wider Illinois labor market. For context, the state median annual wage for this occupation is approximately $34,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Sterling Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$34,040BLS OEWS, May 2025
State employment13,190 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
Whiteside County unemployment rate4.7%BLS LAUS, 2024
Illinois location quotient1.10BLS OEWS, May 2025

Nearby Cities

What You’ll Find Below

The school listings below are sorted by proximity to Sterling. Each entry includes the school name, address, and the credentials offered. Use the Whiteside County and Illinois figures above as a reference point when comparing program length, schedule, and tuition.


Beauty & Cosmetology Schools near Sterling

Beauty Schools Salary Snapshot

U.S.
U.S. Median Pay $35,790 $17.21 per hour
Job Outlook 5.6% 32,200 jobs (2024–2034)
75,800 openings/yr

Beauty-Schools Salary in U.S.

Median Salary $35,790 $17.21/hr
Average Salary $43,960 $21.13/hr

Salary Range

$27,040 10th pctl
$35,790 Median
$71,190 90th pctl
10th Percentile $27,040 $13.00/hr
25th Percentile $30,120 $14.48/hr
75th Percentile $48,830 $23.48/hr
90th Percentile $71,190 $34.23/hr

Employment & Outlook

Total Employed305,710
Growth (2024-2034)5.6%
Annual Openings75,800
Jobs per 1,0002.0

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (39-5012) • BLS OEWS, May 2025 • bls.gov/oes

Next Steps


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade career guide using BLS, DOL, and state licensing data. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.