Although cosmetologists are trained to work on nails, salons typically assign this function to dedicated professionals licensed as nail technicians. Thus, separate salary information is available for each.
The average 2014 cosmetologist salary in West Virginia was 36.6% higher than that for manicurists according to Workforce West Virginia. The entry-level salaries for cosmetologists and manicurists were very similar, but experienced cosmetologists earned an average of 52.1% more than experienced manicurists:
Profession
Average
Entry
Experienced
Cosmetologists
$26689
$16990
$31538
Manicurists
$19531
$17132
$20732
The actual take home pay of these professionals was higher than indicated here because of the prevalence of tipping.
Regional Cosmetology Salaries in West Virginia
Average cosmetologist salaries in West Virginia differed considerably depending on what region they were employed in. Experienced cosmetologists in the southwest region of the state earned salaries that were 86.7% higher than those in West Virginia area as a whole:
West Virginia Area
Average
Entry
Experienced
Southwest
$45844
$19801
$58866
Southeast
$26602
$16983
$31412
Kanawha County
$26136
$16962
$30723
North central
$25186
$16980
$29290
Northern Panhandle
$24717
$17124
$28512
Northeast
$22517
$16940
$25306
Northwest
$20344
$16989
$22022
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides an analysis of 2013 cosmetology salary levels by percentile in West Virginia:
Area name
Employment
Hourly mean wage
Annual mean wage
Hourly median wage
Hourly 75th percentile wage
Hourly 90th percentile wage
Annual median wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Annual 90th percentile wage
Charleston WV
370
14.54
30240
9.33
14.11
29.98
19400
29360
62350
Cumberland MD-WV
210
10.64
22130
9.46
12.82
15.81
19670
26660
32880
Hagerstown-Martinsburg MD-WV
420
13.04
27120
10.75
17.17
21.99
22360
35710
45740
Huntington-Ashland WV-KY-OH
180
11.82
24590
9.57
14.61
20.13
19910
30390
41860
Morgantown WV
160
10.90
22680
9.10
12.89
16.96
18920
26820
35280
Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna WV-OH
160
10.14
21090
8.94
10.06
13.92
18600
20930
28960
Steubenville-Weirton OH-WV
130
12.72
26460
10.00
14.39
20.81
20810
29930
43290
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division
6970
17.40
36200
13.97
19.43
30.57
29060
40410
63590
Wheeling WV-OH
230
11.75
24430
9.85
12.57
19.61
20500
26150
40790
Winchester VA-WV
130
16.13
33550
13.80
19.99
31.27
28710
41580
65050
Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area
120
12.64
26290
10.18
12.34
19.68
21180
25660
40930
North Central West Virginia nonmetropolitan area
190
12.87
26770
10.20
14.61
20.43
21230
30400
42500
More than ten times as many hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists than manicurists were employed in West Virginia in 2014. One hundred manicurists practiced in the state that year, while there were 1,260 licensed cosmetologists.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also provides 2013 salary data for West Virginia’s manicurists and pedicurists:
Area name
Employment
Hourly mean wage
Annual mean wage
Hourly median wage
Hourly 75th percentile wage
Hourly 90th percentile wage
Annual median wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Annual 90th percentile wage
Huntington-Ashland WV-KY-OH
30
8.36
17400
8.57
9.14
9.55
17830
19020
19870
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division
1090
11.66
24250
9.30
13.28
20.14
19340
27620
41890
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