How to Become a Cosmetologist in North Carolina (2026)

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

North Carolina employs about 8,490 cosmetologists earning a median $38,410 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 NC State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners.

Compare Cosmetologist Schools in North Carolina

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
160.6$2,711 in-state / $8,855 out-of-state$42,84443%Yes*34 mi
259.1Contact school for pricing$27,40396%—42 mi
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358.9$2,040 in-state / $6,648 out-of-state$43,95253%Yes*25 mi
453.1$2,672 in-state / $8,816 out-of-state$44,89248%Yes*28 mi
Sponsored Ad
551.7$2,416 in-state / $8,176 out-of-state$39,54658%Yes*16 mi
651.6$1,980 in-state / $6,588 out-of-state$44,53346%Yes*37 mi
Sponsored Ad
750.9$2,592 in-state / $8,736 out-of-state$41,41139%Yes*48 mi
847.2$2,064 in-state / $6,672 out-of-state$43,91635%Yes*43 mi
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935.2$2,320 in-state / $7,696 out-of-state$44,92431%Yes*39 mi
1031.2Contact school for pricing$27,17565%—47 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.

North Carolina employs approximately 8,490 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $38,410 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 North Carolina, 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: NC State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners
  • Exam: state written and practical exams (often NIC)
  • Median wage (North Carolina): $38,410 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Cosmetologist in North Carolina

How to become a Cosmetologist in North Carolina? Complete a board-approved beauty program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and a practitioner license. Apply through NC State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners.

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 NC State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners.

Do I need a license in North Carolina? Yes. North Carolina credentials this role through NC State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners 3. See the licensing section below.

What do cosmetologists earn in North Carolina? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in North Carolina is $38,410 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $26,880 and experienced professionals can earn $61,530 or more 1.

How to Become a Cosmetologist in North Carolina

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

Cosmetologists in North Carolina complete board-approved school hours, pass written and practical exams, and apply to NC State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners for a practitioner license. Hour totals are set by that board. See NC State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners 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 NC State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners for the practitioner license.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with NC State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners before you enroll.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia2,940$38,530$43,290$28,160$61,530
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk2,060N/AN/AN/AN/A
Raleigh-Cary1,810$43,700$46,310$27,300$70,550
Winston-Salem550$38,980$40,230$23,990$57,370
Durham-Chapel Hill530$48,060$55,430$28,610$77,880
Wilmington500$37,230$42,040$24,320$60,450
Greensboro-High Point470$37,620$42,650$24,380$60,600
Asheville330$40,620$44,160$27,420$60,190
Fayetteville160$38,290$41,630$23,490$60,970
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton160$35,100$39,900$27,120$59,180
Burlington90$34,700$39,180$24,340$59,240
Jacksonville90$39,990$44,500$23,580$49,960
Greenville80$34,980$37,980$23,290$59,420
Rocky Mount60$27,330$31,460$21,430$44,110
Goldsboro50$30,740$35,470$24,130$45,780

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 North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 8,490 cosmetologists 1. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a cosmetologist in North Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the NC State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in North Carolina is $38,410, which is $3,160 above the national median of $35,250 according to BLS data 1.

In North Carolina

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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. NC State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners - Licensing Information: https://www.nccosmeticarts.com/licensees.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎

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)