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

"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 Mississippi?"

"Yes. Mississippi requires state-level licensing or registration for cosmetologists, administered by the MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for cosmetologists in Mississippi?"

"In Mississippi, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information."

How to Become A Cosmetologist in Mississippi

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cosmetologists in Mississippi earned a median annual wage of approximately $27,560. Employment concentration in Mississippi is roughly 0.45 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 Mississippi?"

"Mississippi currently employs approximately 1,040 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

Mississippi hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn a median annual wage of $27,560 ($13.25/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,040 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -23.0% below the national median of $35,790 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $27,560 ($13.25/hr)
25th percentile: $23,990 per year
75th percentile: $39,810 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $58,790 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $17,370 per year
Workers employed in Mississippi: 1,040
Versus national median: -23.0% below the U.S. median of $35,790
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.45 - this occupation is less concentrated in Mississippi than the national average

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

Mississippi employs approximately 1,040 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $27,560 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 Mississippi, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Cosmetologist in Mississippi

How do I become a cosmetologist in Mississippi? Mississippi requires credentials such as Hair Braiders. The licensing authority is the MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure 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 Mississippi? Yes. Mississippi has licensing or registration requirements for cosmetologists. The MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do cosmetologists earn in Mississippi? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Mississippi is $27,560 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $17,370 and experienced professionals can earn $58,790 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: MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure
Median wage (Mississippi): $27,560 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Mississippi

The MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure oversees cosmetologist licensing in Mississippi ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Hair Braiders	Hair Braiding shall mean the use of techniques that result in tension on hair strands or roots by twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braiding of the hair by hand or mechanical device,…

Additional Requirements

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

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	1,000	$30,980	$35,980	$25,370	$48,120
Jackson	300	$26,990	$34,270	$17,370	$58,930
Gulfport-Biloxi	170	$26,890	$33,270	$17,420	$57,660
Hattiesburg	70	$24,580	$28,070	$16,640	$38,370

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 Mississippi

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Jackson	300	$26,990
Gulfport-Biloxi	170	$26,890
Hattiesburg	70	$24,580

Explore More Trades in Mississippi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in Mississippi? Mississippi currently employs approximately 1,040 cosmetologists ¹. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a cosmetologist in Mississippi with an out-of-state license? Contact the MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in Mississippi compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Mississippi is $27,560, which is $7,690 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure - Licensing Information: https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/30,0,82.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)