How to Become a Cosmetologist in Wisconsin (2026)

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Wisconsin employs about 6,260 cosmetologists earning a median $36,230 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 WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing.

Compare Cosmetologist Schools in Wisconsin

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
169.6Contact school for pricing$31,85488%—16 mi
268.8Contact school for pricing$35,92588%—43 mi
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367.9Contact school for pricing$35,08597%—45 mi
467.4Contact school for pricing$35,08590%—45 mi
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566.9$4,819 in-state / $7,084 out-of-state$53,77158%Yes*28 mi
662.3$4,872 in-state / $7,115 out-of-state$57,76444%Yes*31 mi
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759.1$4,977 in-state / $7,255 out-of-state$55,20729%Yes*40 mi
852.5$5,184 in-state / $7,427 out-of-state$52,34625%Yes*45 mi
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931.2Contact school for pricingNot reported93%—49 mi
1022.6Contact school for pricing$26,76247%—48 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.

Wisconsin employs approximately 6,260 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $36,230 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 Wisconsin, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Cosmetologist in Wisconsin

How to become a Cosmetologist in Wisconsin? Complete a board-approved beauty program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and a practitioner license. Apply through WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing.

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 WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing.

Do I need a license in Wisconsin? Yes. Wisconsin credentials this role through WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing 3. See the licensing section below.

What do cosmetologists earn in Wisconsin? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Wisconsin is $36,230 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $23,790 and experienced professionals can earn $58,970 or more 1.

How to Become a Cosmetologist in Wisconsin

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

Cosmetologists in Wisconsin complete board-approved school hours, pass written and practical exams, and apply to WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing for a practitioner license. Hour totals are set by that board. See WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing 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 WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing for the practitioner license.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing before you enroll.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in Wisconsin

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington3,920$46,310$50,100$25,640$82,500
Milwaukee-Waukesha2,070$38,190$41,490$26,740$59,620
Madison890$36,490$38,260$23,580$48,680
Green Bay300$35,490$37,820$26,270$54,560
Appleton280$36,260$40,560$23,580$69,930
Duluth270$35,080$41,390$23,580$61,170
Kenosha250$36,520$39,670$24,130$60,700
Oshkosh-Neenah210$29,850$39,670$28,600$72,300
Racine-Mount Pleasant200$35,270$39,350$24,370$61,100
Eau Claire170$35,140$37,440$25,890$49,020
La Crosse-Onalaska170$35,090$35,730$24,130$47,780
Sheboygan150$37,210$41,630$29,000$66,580
Janesville-Beloit140$35,500$38,670$23,640$59,570
Wausau120$34,050$39,090$25,510$61,990
Fond du Lac110$31,810$38,990$29,150$60,960

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 Wisconsin? Wisconsin currently employs approximately 6,260 cosmetologists 1. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a cosmetologist in Wisconsin with an out-of-state license? Contact the WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in Wisconsin compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in Wisconsin is $36,230, which is $980 above the national median of $35,250 according to BLS data 1.

In Wisconsin

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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. WI Department of Safety and Professional Services - Division of Professional Credential Processing - Licensing Information: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/Default.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)