How to Become a Cosmetologist in Florida (2026)
Florida employs about 23,530 cosmetologists earning a median $29,530 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 FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions.
Compare Cosmetologist Schools in Florida
| # | School | BOC Score (0–100) | Tuition (published, per year) | Median grad earnings (all majors) | Graduation rate | Online | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Florida State College | 73.8 | $3,165 in-state / $11,859 out-of-state | $48,619 | 48% | Yes* | 19 mi |
| 2 | Traviss Technical College | 73.3 | Contact school for pricing | $38,755 | 90% | — | 26 mi |
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| 3 | Affinity Hair Academy | Not rated | Contact school for pricing | Not reported | 92% | — | 48 mi |
| 4 | UR Beauty & Barber Academy | 52.7 | Contact school for pricing | Not reported | 81% | — | 26 mi |
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| 5 | Academy of Career Training | 51.2 | Contact school for pricing | $20,962 | 82% | — | 32 mi |
| 6 | Ridge Technical College | 47.7 | $3,930 in-state / $10,530 out-of-state | $35,542 | 99% | — | 16 mi |
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| 7 | Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Lakeland | 47.6 | Contact school for pricing | $23,234 | 76% | — | 26 mi |
| 8 | Osceola Technical College | 43.3 | Contact school for pricing | $37,201 | 47% | — | 36 mi |
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| 9 | Orange Technical College-West Campus | 43.2 | Contact school for pricing | Not reported | 71% | — | 48 mi |
| 10 | Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa | 43.0 | Contact school for pricing | $23,234 | 77% | — | 51 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.
Florida employs approximately 23,530 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $29,530 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 Florida, 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: FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions
- Exam: state written and practical exams (often NIC)
- Median wage (Florida): $29,530 per year 1
Quick Answers About How to Become a Cosmetologist in Florida
How to become a Cosmetologist in Florida? Complete a board-approved beauty program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and a practitioner license. Apply through FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions.
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 FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions.
Do I need a license in Florida? Yes. Florida credentials this role through FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions 3. See the licensing section below.
What do cosmetologists earn in Florida? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Florida is $29,530 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $27,450 and experienced professionals can earn $58,320 or more 1.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in Florida
- Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions. Do not treat minimum age as years of work experience.
- Complete a board-approved program. Finish a school program that meets Florida’s current hour requirement. Confirm the total with FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions; do not copy another state’s hours. This is not a DAS registered apprenticeship, though some boards offer a shop-apprentice route.
- Pass written and practical exams. Pass the exams FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions uses (often NIC). Instructor and shop licenses are later rungs, not the first practitioner license.
- Apply for the practitioner license. Apply to FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions 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 Florida
Cosmetologists in Florida complete board-approved school hours, pass written and practical exams, and apply to FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions for a practitioner license. Hour totals are set by that board. See FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions 3.
Typical path
Meet board entry rules.
Complete a board-approved program for this state’s hours.
Pass written and practical exams.
Apply to FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions for the practitioner license.
Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions before you enroll.
Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Florida
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Wages by Metro Area in Florida
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists wages in Florida vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | 4,910 | $29,790 | $35,780 | $28,160 | $54,850 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | 4,540 | $29,520 | $39,520 | $28,130 | $66,370 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | 3,090 | $29,470 | $35,230 | $27,080 | $57,250 |
| Jacksonville | 1,930 | $28,900 | $35,210 | $27,500 | $54,940 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | 1,540 | $29,690 | $37,470 | $28,520 | $60,300 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | 1,010 | $29,760 | $35,330 | $28,090 | $55,240 |
| Naples-Marco Island | 800 | $33,480 | $38,660 | $29,790 | $60,230 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 770 | $29,020 | $34,200 | $27,510 | $54,850 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | 540 | $28,370 | $33,080 | $27,040 | $48,970 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | 500 | $29,030 | $33,990 | $27,040 | $51,060 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | 460 | $29,940 | $35,810 | $27,040 | $59,920 |
| Port St. Lucie | 420 | $29,200 | $36,230 | $27,340 | $59,870 |
| Tallahassee | 410 | $29,010 | $34,120 | $27,040 | $60,830 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | 310 | $29,250 | $33,200 | $27,040 | $48,500 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | 290 | $29,830 | $34,760 | $27,930 | $49,830 |
| Ocala | 270 | $27,180 | $31,490 | $27,040 | $39,340 |
| Gainesville | 260 | $27,930 | $32,820 | $27,040 | $48,580 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | 210 | $27,170 | $31,630 | $27,040 | $46,900 |
| Punta Gorda | 200 | $29,160 | $34,190 | $27,040 | $51,460 |
| Homosassa Springs | 170 | $30,250 | $34,000 | $27,040 | $54,100 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | 150 | $29,200 | $34,170 | $27,170 | $49,850 |
| Sebring | 30 | $36,000 | $36,310 | $27,040 | $41,740 |
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 Florida? Florida currently employs approximately 23,530 cosmetologists 1. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as a cosmetologist in Florida with an out-of-state license? Contact the FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Florida? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Florida.
How much do cosmetologists earn in Florida compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Florida is $29,530, which is $5,720 below the national median of $35,250 according to BLS data 1.
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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
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation - Division of Professions - Licensing Information: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |