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

"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 Kansas?"

"Yes. Kansas requires state-level licensing or registration for cosmetologists, administered by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for cosmetologists in Kansas?"

"In Kansas, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Kansas Registered Apprenticeship, 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 Kansas

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cosmetologists in Kansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $29,710. Employment concentration in Kansas is roughly 0.77 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 Kansas?"

"Kansas currently employs approximately 2,190 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

Kansas hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn a median annual wage of $29,710 ($14.28/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,190 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -17.0% below the national median of $35,790 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $29,710 ($14.28/hr)
25th percentile: $26,690 per year
75th percentile: $48,010 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $77,790 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $21,910 per year
Workers employed in Kansas: 2,190
Versus national median: -17.0% below the U.S. median of $35,790
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.77 - this occupation is less concentrated in Kansas than the national average

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

Kansas employs approximately 2,190 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $29,710 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 Kansas, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Cosmetologist in Kansas

How do I become a cosmetologist in Kansas? Kansas requires credentials such as Cosmetologist. The licensing authority is the Kansas Board of Cosmetology 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 Kansas? Yes. Kansas has licensing or registration requirements for cosmetologists. The Kansas Board of Cosmetology oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do cosmetologists earn in Kansas? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Kansas is $29,710 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $21,910 and experienced professionals can earn $77,790 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: Kansas Board of Cosmetology
Median wage (Kansas): $29,710 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Kansas

The Kansas Board of Cosmetology oversees cosmetologist licensing in Kansas ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Cosmetologist	Cosmetologists provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp.

Additional Requirements

Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Kansas

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Kansas City	2,220	$31,520	$41,280	$28,300	$79,350
Wichita	460	$28,340	$36,770	$21,570	$77,640
Topeka	140	$29,160	$37,350	$22,340	$75,100
Manhattan	130	$29,700	$37,170	$23,320	$73,480
Joplin	130	$28,600	$32,300	$28,600	$37,110
Lawrence	100	$36,180	$40,990	$22,420	$78,540
St. Joseph	40	$28,730	$33,050	$28,600	$36,800

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 Kansas

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Wichita	460	$28,340
Topeka	140	$29,160
Manhattan	130	$29,700
Lawrence	100	$36,180

Explore More Trades in Kansas

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in Kansas? Kansas currently employs approximately 2,190 cosmetologists ¹. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a cosmetologist in Kansas with an out-of-state license? Contact the Kansas Board of Cosmetology for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in Kansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Kansas is $29,710, which is $5,540 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Kansas Board of Cosmetology - Licensing Information: https://www.kansas.gov/kboc/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)