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

"The primary Nevada license requires approximately 1,200 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 0.6 years of full-time work."

"Do cosmetologists need a license in Nevada?"

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

"What apprenticeships are available for cosmetologists in Nevada?"

"In Nevada, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner, 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 Nevada

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cosmetologists in Nevada earned a median annual wage of approximately $33,840. Employment concentration in Nevada is roughly 0.64 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 Nevada?"

"Nevada currently employs approximately 1,940 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

Nevada hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn a median annual wage of $33,840 ($16.27/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,940 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.4% below the national median of $35,790 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $33,840 ($16.27/hr)
25th percentile: $29,400 per year
75th percentile: $37,560 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $64,300 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $26,160 per year
Workers employed in Nevada: 1,940
Versus national median: -5.4% below the U.S. median of $35,790
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.64 - this occupation is less concentrated in Nevada than the national average

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

Nevada employs approximately 1,940 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $33,840 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 Nevada, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Cosmetologist in Nevada

How do I become a cosmetologist in Nevada? Nevada requires credentials such as Hair Designer, Cosmetologist. The licensing authority is the Board of Cosmetology ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 1,200 hours of experience (roughly 0.6 years of full-time work) ³.

Do I need a license in Nevada? Yes. Nevada has licensing or registration requirements for cosmetologists. The Board of Cosmetology oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do cosmetologists earn in Nevada? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Nevada is $33,840 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $26,160 and experienced professionals can earn $64,300 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: Board of Cosmetology
Median wage (Nevada): $33,840 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Both state and third-party exams required

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Nevada

The Board of Cosmetology oversees cosmetologist licensing in Nevada ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Hair Designer	Applicants must have completed 1,200 hours in a school of cosmetology program approved by the State Board; completed school through at least the 10th grade or the equivalent; be at least 18 years old;…
Cosmetologist	Applicants must have completed 1,600 hours in a school of cosmetology program approved by the State Board; completed school through at least the 10th grade or the equivalent; be at least 18 years old;…

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: Both state and third-party exams required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Nevada

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas	1,420	$30,530	$38,580	$26,160	$69,250
Reno	380	$36,490	$40,540	$26,280	$59,800
Carson City	50	$35,350	$37,910	$26,350	$48,810

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 Nevada

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas	1,420	$30,530
Reno	380	$36,490
Carson City	50	$35,350

Explore More Trades in Nevada

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in Nevada? Nevada currently employs approximately 1,940 cosmetologists ¹. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in Nevada compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Nevada is $33,840, which is $1,410 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Board of Cosmetology - Licensing Information: https://www.nvcosmo.com ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)