How to Become a Cosmetologist in Tennessee (2026)

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Tennessee employs about 6,080 cosmetologists earning a median $31,310 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 Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards.

Compare Cosmetologist Schools in Tennessee

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
168.3Contact school for pricing$34,30897%—45 mi
266.6Contact school for pricing$50,87976%—50 mi
Sponsored Ad
356.6Contact school for pricing$41,76670%—41 mi
455.3Contact school for pricing$43,13674%—18 mi
Sponsored Ad
553.2Contact school for pricing$31,29668%—53 mi
650.1Contact school for pricing$43,24165%—21 mi
Sponsored Ad
745.1Contact school for pricing$31,89377%—55 mi
844.8Contact school for pricing$29,49675%—49 mi
Sponsored Ad
9Not ratedContact school for pricing$29,12086%—26 mi
1037.8Contact school for pricing$29,49674%—54 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.

Tennessee employs approximately 6,080 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $31,310 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 Tennessee, 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 Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards
  • Exam: state written and practical exams (often NIC)
  • Median wage (Tennessee): $31,310 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Cosmetologist in Tennessee

How to become a Cosmetologist in Tennessee? 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 Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards.

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 Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards.

Do I need a license in Tennessee? Yes. Tennessee typically registers this role through Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards. See the licensing section below.

What do cosmetologists earn in Tennessee? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Tennessee is $31,310 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $25,700 and experienced professionals can earn $58,000 or more 1.

How to Become a Cosmetologist in Tennessee

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards. Do not treat minimum age as years of work experience.
  2. Complete a board-approved program. Finish a school program that meets Tennessee’s current hour requirement. Confirm the total with Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards; 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 Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards 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 Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards 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 Tennessee

Cosmetologists in Tennessee complete board-approved school hours, pass written and practical exams, and apply to Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards for a practitioner license. Hour totals are set by that board.

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 Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards for the practitioner license.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards before you enroll.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin2,770$34,430$40,180$28,080$62,430
Memphis1,000$30,980$35,980$25,370$48,120
Knoxville910$30,650$38,460$23,960$63,100
Chattanooga410$30,380$36,690$23,370$57,630
Johnson City180$28,980$32,350$22,850$44,200
Clarksville160$29,900$33,630$22,280$47,800
Kingsport-Bristol120$28,820$32,800$23,440$45,190
Morristown50$29,210$31,600$24,150$47,030
Cleveland40$30,390$38,800$19,750$62,610

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 Tennessee? Tennessee currently employs approximately 6,080 cosmetologists 1. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a cosmetologist in Tennessee with an out-of-state license? Contact Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division of Regulatory Boards - Division of Regulatory Boards for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in Tennessee compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Tennessee is $31,310, which is $3,940 below the national median of $35,250 according to BLS data 1.

In Tennessee

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in Tennessee

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)