How to Become a Cosmetologist in Colorado (2026)

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Colorado employs about 6,820 cosmetologists earning a median $37,690 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 Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure.

Compare Cosmetologist Schools in Colorado

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. 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)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
174.9Contact school for pricing$45,93597%—32 mi
264.2$4,859 in-state / $17,459 out-of-state$62,69532%Yes*22 mi
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361.0Contact school for pricing$39,15584%—31 mi
457.3$4,434 in-state / $17,034 out-of-state$57,58929%Yes*31 mi
Sponsored Ad
555.9Contact school for pricingNot reported81%—46 mi
655.0$5,140 in-state / $9,250 out-of-state$44,69376%—42 mi
Sponsored Ad
751.2Contact school for pricing$32,78981%—39 mi
850.6Contact school for pricing$38,02678%—27 mi
Sponsored Ad
938.6Contact school for pricing$24,50665%—31 mi
1038.2Contact school for pricing$25,81058%—36 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.

Colorado employs approximately 6,820 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,690 1. The state’s concentration of cosmetologist jobs is 1.21x 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 Colorado, 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: [Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure](https://Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure)
  • Exam: state written and practical exams (often NIC)
  • Median wage (Colorado): $37,690 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Cosmetologist in Colorado

How to become a Cosmetologist in Colorado? Complete a board-approved beauty program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and a practitioner license. Apply through Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure.

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 Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure.

Do I need a license in Colorado? Yes. Colorado credentials this role through [Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure](https://Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure) 3. See the licensing section below.

What do cosmetologists earn in Colorado? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Colorado is $37,690 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,520 and experienced professionals can earn $98,860 or more 1.

How to Become a Cosmetologist in Colorado

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

Cosmetologists in Colorado complete board-approved school hours, pass written and practical exams, and apply to Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure for a practitioner license. Hour totals are set by that board. See [Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure](https://Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure) 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 Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure for the practitioner license.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure before you enroll.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Denver-Aurora-Centennial4,150$36,530$51,550$34,300$100,340
Colorado Springs870$36,680$49,880$30,910$97,330
Fort Collins-Loveland560$41,230$49,920$31,700$81,180
Boulder490$48,120$60,730$35,060$103,430
Greeley210$44,380$49,750$31,240$90,900
Grand Junction170$36,500$45,660$30,800$75,230
Pueblo50$33,280$40,670$30,800$58,370

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in Colorado? Colorado currently employs approximately 6,820 cosmetologists 1. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a cosmetologist in Colorado with an out-of-state license? Contact the [Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure](https://Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure) for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in Colorado compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Colorado is $37,690, which is $2,440 above the national median of $35,250 according to BLS data 1.

In Colorado

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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. Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure - Licensing Information: [https://Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure](https://Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure) ↩︎ ↩︎

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)