How to Become a Cosmetologist in Arizona (2026)

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arizona employs about 7,840 cosmetologists earning a median $36,810 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 Barbering and Cosmetology Board.

Compare Cosmetologist Schools in Arizona

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
155.3Contact school for pricing$33,26182%—63 mi
255.3Contact school for pricing$24,66284%—33 mi
Sponsored Ad
353.6Contact school for pricing$30,53480%—33 mi
451.1Contact school for pricing$29,67577%—60 mi
Sponsored Ad
548.7Contact school for pricing$31,42786%—59 mi
647.8Contact school for pricing$26,90879%—33 mi
Sponsored Ad
746.5Contact school for pricing$30,53468%—66 mi
845.8Contact school for pricing$26,326Not reported—31 mi
Sponsored Ad
936.4Contact school for pricing$27,55961%—62 mi
1036.2Contact school for pricing$50,09864%—66 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.

Arizona employs approximately 7,840 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $36,810 1. The state’s concentration of cosmetologist jobs is 1.23x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Arizona, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: board-approved cosmetology or barbering program (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: a board-approved beauty program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and a practitioner license
  • Licensing authority: Barbering and Cosmetology Board
  • Exam: state written and practical exams (often NIC)
  • Median wage (Arizona): $36,810 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Cosmetologist in Arizona

How to become a Cosmetologist in Arizona? Complete a board-approved beauty program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and a practitioner license. Apply through Barbering and Cosmetology Board.

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 Barbering and Cosmetology Board.

Do I need a license in Arizona? Yes. Arizona credentials this role through Barbering and Cosmetology Board 3. See the licensing section below.

What do cosmetologists earn in Arizona? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Arizona is $36,810 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,050 and experienced professionals can earn $57,790 or more 1.

How to Become a Cosmetologist in Arizona

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with Barbering and Cosmetology Board. Do not treat minimum age as years of work experience.
  2. Complete a board-approved program. Finish a school program that meets Arizona’s current hour requirement. Confirm the total with Barbering and Cosmetology Board; 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 Barbering and Cosmetology Board uses (often NIC). Instructor and shop licenses are later rungs, not the first practitioner license.
  4. Apply for the practitioner license. Apply to Barbering and Cosmetology Board 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 Arizona

Cosmetologists in Arizona complete board-approved school hours, pass written and practical exams, and apply to Barbering and Cosmetology Board for a practitioner license. Hour totals are set by that board. See Barbering and Cosmetology Board 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 Barbering and Cosmetology Board for the practitioner license.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Barbering and Cosmetology Board before you enroll.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Arizona

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler6,440$36,810$43,250$31,340$56,890
Tucson890$38,590$43,470$30,580$61,620
Prescott Valley-Prescott120$34,710$38,520$31,280$48,730
Yuma110$34,970$39,280$30,580$44,450
Flagstaff90$37,390$38,970$33,310$44,740
Lake Havasu City-Kingman70$33,810$35,080$30,580$44,660

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 Arizona? Arizona currently employs approximately 7,840 cosmetologists 1. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in Arizona compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Arizona is $36,810, which is $1,560 above the national median of $35,250 according to BLS data 1.

In Arizona

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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. Barbering and Cosmetology Board - Licensing Information: https://barberboard.az.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)