How to Become a Cosmetologist in Illinois (2026)

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 13,190 cosmetologists earning a median $34,040 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 Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Compare Cosmetologist Schools in Illinois

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
162.0Contact school for pricing$35,76782%—54 mi
259.9Contact school for pricingNot reported96%—63 mi
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355.3Contact school for pricing$33,26181%—40 mi
455.1$4,530 in-state / $13,800 out-of-state$51,12121%Yes*52 mi
Sponsored Ad
547.7Contact school for pricing$23,67483%—25 mi
644.9Contact school for pricing$25,17063%—64 mi
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740.2Contact school for pricing$28,32679%—33 mi
8Not ratedContact school for pricing$19,01191%—56 mi
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934.6Contact school for pricing$23,39859%—66 mi
1033.9Contact school for pricing$30,72262%—56 mi
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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.

Illinois employs approximately 13,190 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $34,040 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 Illinois, 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: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
  • Exam: state written and practical exams (often NIC)
  • Median wage (Illinois): $34,040 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Cosmetologist in Illinois

How to become a Cosmetologist in Illinois? Complete a board-approved beauty program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and a practitioner license. Apply through Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

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 Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Do I need a license in Illinois? Yes. Illinois credentials this role through Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation 3. See the licensing section below.

What do cosmetologists earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Illinois is $34,040 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,200 and experienced professionals can earn $58,960 or more 1.

How to Become a Cosmetologist in Illinois

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

Cosmetologists in Illinois complete board-approved school hours, pass written and practical exams, and apply to Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for a practitioner license. Hour totals are set by that board. See Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation 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 Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for the practitioner license.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation before you enroll.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin12,000$34,260$39,760$31,200$58,960
St. Louis2,830$33,350$42,640$28,950$63,650
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island420$33,580$40,210$26,780$59,460
Peoria340$32,280$35,660$31,200$39,070
Springfield280$31,200$37,390$31,200$54,510
Champaign-Urbana180$33,840$48,710$31,200$85,790
Cape Girardeau100$28,800$39,600$28,600$58,890
Decatur70$32,620$38,290$31,200$53,840
Kankakee40$31,200$38,700$31,200$54,390
Paducah40$28,350$35,550$22,250$71,840

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 Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 13,190 cosmetologists 1. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a cosmetologist in Illinois with an out-of-state license? Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Illinois is $34,040, which is $1,210 below the national median of $35,250 according to BLS data 1.

In Illinois

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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. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Licensing Information: https://www.idfpr.com/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)