"How long does it take to become a cosmetologist in Hawaii?"

"The primary Hawaii license requires approximately 20 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 0.0 years of full-time work."

"Do cosmetologists need a license in Hawaii?"

"Yes. Hawaii requires state-level licensing or registration for cosmetologists, administered by the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce \u0026 Consumer Affairs - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for cosmetologists in Hawaii?"

"In Hawaii, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Hawaii Workforce Development Division - Apprenticeships, 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 Hawaii

Q: "How much do cosmetologists earn in Hawaii?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cosmetologists in Hawaii earned a median annual wage of approximately $35,040. Employment concentration in Hawaii is roughly 0.76 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 Hawaii?"

"Hawaii currently employs approximately 930 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

Hawaii hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn a median annual wage of $35,040 ($16.85/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 930 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.1% below the national median of $35,790 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $35,040 ($16.85/hr)
25th percentile: $29,650 per year
75th percentile: $56,360 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $73,820 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $29,120 per year
Workers employed in Hawaii: 930
Versus national median: -2.1% below the U.S. median of $35,790
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.76 - this occupation is less concentrated in Hawaii than the national average

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

Hawaii employs approximately 930 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $35,040 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 Hawaii, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Cosmetologist in Hawaii

How do I become a cosmetologist in Hawaii? Hawaii requires credentials such as Beauty Apprentice, Beauty Operator, Beauty Instructor. The licensing authority is the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 20 hours of experience (roughly 0.0 years of full-time work) ³.

Do I need a license in Hawaii? Yes. Hawaii has licensing or registration requirements for cosmetologists. The Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do cosmetologists earn in Hawaii? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Hawaii is $35,040 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $29,120 and experienced professionals can earn $73,820 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: Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
Median wage (Hawaii): $35,040 per year ¹
Exam requirement: No exam required

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Hawaii

The Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology oversees cosmetologist licensing in Hawaii ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Beauty Apprentice	This apprentice application is to be used for either Barber or Beauty Apprentice registration.
Beauty Operator	DESCRIPTION OF OCCUPATION: A Beauty Operator includes cosmetologists, hairdressers, estheticians, and nail technicians.
Beauty Instructor	HAWAII BEO LICENSE You must possess a current and valid Hawaii Beauty Operator (BEO) License.
Beauty Instructor	DESCRIPTION OF OCCUPATION: A Beauty Instructor teaches Beauty Operators. REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSING: Personal requirements: Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or alien authorized to work in the U.S.
Barber	DESCRIPTION OF OCCUPATION: A Barber provides grooming services to customers including cutting, trimming, coloring, waving, curling, shampooing, and styling hair.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: No exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Hawaii

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Wages by Metro Area in Hawaii

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Urban Honolulu	740	$31,020	$44,540	$29,120	$73,820
Kahului-Wailuku	80	$60,710	$58,960	$30,090	$94,740

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 Hawaii

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Urban Honolulu	740	$31,020
Kahului-Wailuku	80	$60,710

Explore More Trades in Hawaii

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in Hawaii? Hawaii currently employs approximately 930 cosmetologists ¹. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a cosmetologist in Hawaii with an out-of-state license? Contact the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in Hawaii compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Hawaii is $35,040, which is $210 below 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology - Licensing Information: http://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/barber/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)