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

"The primary Nebraska license requires approximately 600 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 0.3 years of full-time work."

"What apprenticeships are available for cosmetologists in Nebraska?"

"In Nebraska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Nebraska Division of Employment and Training - 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 Nebraska

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cosmetologists in Nebraska earned a median annual wage of approximately $34,320."

Q: "Do cosmetologists need a license in Nebraska?"

"Yes. Nebraska requires state-level licensing or registration for cosmetologists, administered by the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health \u0026 Consumer Services. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

Q: "What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in Nebraska?"

"Nebraska currently employs approximately 1,890 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

Nebraska employs approximately 1,890 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $34,320 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 Nebraska, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Cosmetologist in Nebraska

How do I become a cosmetologist in Nebraska? Nebraska requires credentials such as Cosmetology Instructor, Cosmetologist. The licensing authority is the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 600 hours of experience (roughly 0.3 years of full-time work) ³.

Do I need a license in Nebraska? Yes. Nebraska has licensing or registration requirements for cosmetologists. The Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do cosmetologists earn in Nebraska? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Nebraska is $34,320 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $28,080 and experienced professionals can earn $73,740 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: Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services
Median wage (Nebraska): $34,320 per year ¹

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Nebraska

The Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services oversees cosmetologist licensing in Nebraska ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Cosmetology Instructor	Occupational Description A Cosmetology Instructor is a person licensed under the Nebraska Cosmetology Act to teach any or all of the practices of cosmetology in a school of cosmetology or…
Cosmetologist	Occupational Description Cosmetology means the practice of performing, for compensation, any or all of the following: Acts of arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, cutting, blea…

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	1,220	$36,390	$46,900	$28,080	$75,130
Lincoln	340	$30,440	$38,170	$28,080	$60,900
Sioux City	100	$30,330	$33,870	$23,330	$48,450
Grand Island	60	$30,740	$36,670	$28,080	$58,110

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 Nebraska

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Omaha	1,220	$36,390
Lincoln	340	$30,440
Grand Island	60	$30,740

Explore More Trades in Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in Nebraska? Nebraska currently employs approximately 1,890 cosmetologists ¹. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a cosmetologist in Nebraska with an out-of-state license? Contact the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in Nebraska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Nebraska is $34,320, which is $930 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services - Licensing Information: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/pages/professions-and-occupations.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)