"How long does it take to become a cosmetologist in District of Columbia?"

"Most paths into the cosmetologist field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do cosmetologists need a license in District of Columbia?"

"Yes. District of Columbia requires state-level licensing or registration for cosmetologists, administered by the Department of Consumer \u0026 Regulatory Affairs - Occupational \u0026 Professional Licensing Administration. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for cosmetologists in District of Columbia?"

"In District of Columbia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Employment Services, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Cosmetologist in District of Columbia

Q: "How much do cosmetologists earn in District of Columbia?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cosmetologists in District of Columbia earned a median annual wage of approximately $54,570. Employment concentration in District of Columbia is roughly 0.63 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in District of Columbia?"

"District of Columbia currently employs approximately 870 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.6% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

District of Columbia hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn a median annual wage of $54,570 ($26.23/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 870 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 52.5% above the national median of $35,790 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $54,570 ($26.23/hr)
25th percentile: $45,250 per year
75th percentile: $77,620 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $130,950 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,400 per year
Workers employed in District of Columbia: 870
Versus national median: 52.5% above the U.S. median of $35,790
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.63 - this occupation is less concentrated in District of Columbia than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

District of Columbia employs approximately 870 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $54,570 ¹. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034, with about 75,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a cosmetologist in District of Columbia, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Cosmetologist in District of Columbia

How do I become a cosmetologist in District of Columbia? District of Columbia requires credentials such as BARBER, COSMETOLOGY. The licensing authority is the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in District of Columbia? Yes. District of Columbia has licensing or registration requirements for cosmetologists. The Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do cosmetologists earn in District of Columbia? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in District of Columbia is $54,570 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,400 and experienced professionals can earn $130,950 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration
Median wage (District of Columbia): $54,570 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Cosmetologist License Requirements in District of Columbia

The Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration oversees cosmetologist licensing in District of Columbia ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
BARBER	Contact licensing agency for more information.
COSMETOLOGY	Contact licensing agency for more information.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Specific type of conviction prohibited
Exam: State exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists wages in District of Columbia vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	7,010	$37,020	$49,360	$26,900	$78,900

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Cosmetologists in District of Columbia

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest cosmetologist employment within District of Columbia according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	7,010	$37,020

Explore More Trades in District of Columbia

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in District of Columbia? District of Columbia currently employs approximately 870 cosmetologists ¹. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a cosmetologist in District of Columbia with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in District of Columbia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in District of Columbia.

How much do cosmetologists earn in District of Columbia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in District of Columbia is $54,570, which is $19,320 above the national median of $35,250 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration - Licensing Information: https://dlcp.dc.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)