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

"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 Louisiana?"

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

"What apprenticeships are available for cosmetologists in Louisiana?"

"In Louisiana, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Louisiana Registered Apprenticeship Division, 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 Louisiana

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cosmetologists in Louisiana earned a median annual wage of approximately $26,030. Employment concentration in Louisiana is roughly 0.71 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 Louisiana?"

"Louisiana currently employs approximately 2,720 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

Louisiana hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn a median annual wage of $26,030 ($12.51/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,720 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -27.3% below the national median of $35,790 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $26,030 ($12.51/hr)
25th percentile: $23,060 per year
75th percentile: $29,530 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $33,900 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $21,590 per year
Workers employed in Louisiana: 2,720
Versus national median: -27.3% below the U.S. median of $35,790
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.71 - this occupation is less concentrated in Louisiana than the national average

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

Louisiana employs approximately 2,720 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $26,030 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 Louisiana, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Cosmetologist in Louisiana

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

What do cosmetologists earn in Louisiana? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Louisiana is $26,030 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $21,590 and experienced professionals can earn $33,900 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: Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology
Median wage (Louisiana): $26,030 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Louisiana

The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology oversees cosmetologist licensing in Louisiana ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Cosmetologist or Beauctician or Beauty Operator	In order to qualify for the license the applicant must have completed the tenth grade or equivalent.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New Orleans-Metairie	670	$26,470	$28,210	$22,790	$33,730
Baton Rouge	510	$26,300	$27,790	$21,160	$33,900
Lafayette	350	$23,700	$26,280	$21,400	$30,890
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington	290	$26,080	$26,910	$21,810	$30,700
Shreveport-Bossier City	250	$24,170	$27,360	$21,600	$35,070
Hammond	160	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Lake Charles	150	$23,840	$26,000	$21,380	$30,610
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux	80	$23,550	$24,430	$19,590	$30,010
Monroe	80	$23,260	$25,260	$22,240	$30,200
Alexandria	60	$23,580	$26,230	$22,700	$31,010

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 Louisiana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
New Orleans-Metairie	670	$26,470
Baton Rouge	510	$26,300
Lafayette	350	$23,700
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington	290	$26,080
Shreveport-Bossier City	250	$24,170

Explore More Trades in Louisiana

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in Louisiana? Louisiana currently employs approximately 2,720 cosmetologists ¹. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in Louisiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Louisiana is $26,030, which is $9,220 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology - Licensing Information: https://www.lsbc.louisiana.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)