How to Become a Cosmetologist in Hawaii (2026)

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Hawaii employs about 930 cosmetologists earning a median $35,040 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 Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing Division - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

Compare Cosmetologist Schools in Hawaii

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
148.2$3,174 in-state / $8,310 out-of-state$71,25425%—36 mi
247.6Contact school for pricing$18,58182%—36 mi
Sponsored Ad
3Not ratedContact school for pricingNot reported81%—59 mi

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.

Hawaii employs approximately 930 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $35,040 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 Hawaii, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Cosmetologist in Hawaii

How to become a Cosmetologist in Hawaii? Complete a board-approved beauty program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and a practitioner license. Apply through Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing Division - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

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 Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing Division - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

Do I need a license in Hawaii? Yes. Hawaii credentials this role through Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing Division - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology 3. See the licensing section below.

What do cosmetologists earn in Hawaii? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Hawaii is $35,040 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $29,120 and experienced professionals can earn $73,820 or more 1.

How to Become a Cosmetologist in Hawaii

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

Cosmetologists in Hawaii complete board-approved school hours, pass written and practical exams, and apply to Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing Division - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology for a practitioner license. Hour totals are set by that board. See Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing Division - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology 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 Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing Division - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology for the practitioner license.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing Division - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology before you enroll.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Hawaii

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Urban Honolulu740$31,020$44,540$29,120$73,820
Kahului-Wailuku80$60,710$58,960$30,090$94,740

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 Hawaii? Hawaii currently employs approximately 930 cosmetologists 1. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a cosmetologist in Hawaii with an out-of-state license? Contact the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing Division - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in Hawaii compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Hawaii is $35,040, which is $210 below the national median of $35,250 according to BLS data 1.

In Hawaii

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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. Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing Division - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology - Licensing Information: http://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/barber/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)