How to Become a Cosmetologist in Missouri (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Missouri employs about 5,430 cosmetologists earning a median $30,750 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Cosmetologist here means completing a board-approved beauty program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and a practitioner license, then applying through Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.

Compare Cosmetologist Schools in Missouri

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
169.8Contact school for pricing$44,051Not reported—60 mi
254.8Contact school for pricing$31,48378%—32 mi
Sponsored Ad
351.4Contact school for pricing$31,48972%—46 mi
446.6Contact school for pricing$25,72267%—37 mi
Sponsored Ad
546.2Contact school for pricing$36,02576%—88 mi
645.4Contact school for pricing$51,909Not reported—47 mi
Sponsored Ad
743.7Contact school for pricing$26,91775%—96 mi
841.4Contact school for pricingNot reported66%—59 mi
Sponsored Ad
937.7Contact school for pricing$21,553Not reported—48 mi
1035.7Contact school for pricing$25,30166%—89 mi
Sponsored Ad

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Missouri employs approximately 5,430 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $30,750 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 Missouri, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Cosmetologist in Missouri

How to become a Cosmetologist in Missouri? Complete a board-approved beauty program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and a practitioner license. Apply through Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.

How long does it take? Most people finish a board-approved beauty program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and a practitioner license. Confirm current hour totals with the program and Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.

Do I need a license in Missouri? Yes. Missouri credentials this role through Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners 3. See the licensing section below.

What do cosmetologists earn in Missouri? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Missouri is $30,750 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $28,600 and experienced professionals can earn $58,530 or more 1.

How to Become a Cosmetologist in Missouri

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners. Do not treat minimum age as years of work experience.
  2. Complete a board-approved program. Finish a school program that meets Missouri’s current hour requirement. Confirm the total with Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners; do not copy another state’s hours. This is not a DAS registered apprenticeship, though some boards offer a shop-apprentice route.
  3. Pass written and practical exams. Pass the exams Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners uses (often NIC). Instructor and shop licenses are later rungs, not the first practitioner license.
  4. Apply for the practitioner license. Apply to Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners before taking paying clients.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Missouri

Cosmetologists in Missouri complete board-approved school hours, pass written and practical exams, and apply to Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners for a practitioner license. Hour totals are set by that board. See Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners 3.

Typical path

  1. Meet board entry rules.

  2. Complete a board-approved program for this state’s hours.

  3. Pass written and practical exams.

  4. Apply to Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners for the practitioner license.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners before you enroll.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Missouri

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
St. Louis2,830$33,350$42,640$28,950$63,650
Kansas City2,220$31,520$41,280$28,300$79,350
Springfield500$29,500$38,370$28,600$60,040
Columbia270$35,900$40,390$28,600$55,410
Joplin130$28,600$32,300$28,600$37,110
Jefferson City110$28,630$39,280$28,600$60,220
Cape Girardeau100$28,800$39,600$28,600$58,890
St. Joseph40$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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in Missouri? Missouri currently employs approximately 5,430 cosmetologists 1. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a cosmetologist in Missouri with an out-of-state license? Contact the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Missouri? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Missouri.

How much do cosmetologists earn in Missouri compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Missouri is $30,750, which is $4,500 below the national median of $35,250 according to BLS data 1.

In Missouri

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in Missouri

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

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners - Licensing Information: http://pr.mo.gov/cosbar.asp ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

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

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)