According to the state’s Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED), the 2014 median cosmetologist salary in Minnesota was slightly above the national median at $23,712.
The median cosmetologist salaries in Minnesota differed greatly depending on where these professionals were employed. The highest salaries were in several metropolitan areas, particularly in Rochester and Grand Forks:
Metropolitan Areas
- Rochester – $24,981
- Grand Forks – $24,877
- Minneapolis-St. Paul – $24,336
- Fargo – $23,150
- Duluth – $22,547
- La Crosse – $22,443
- Mankato – $20,966
- Saint Cloud – $19,552
Balance of State Areas
- Southeast – $23,130
- Northwest – $19,677
- Northeast – $19,282
The take home cosmetology salaries are typically higher than those reported, since most customers tip at least 10%.
Minnesota Hair and Nail Professional Employment Levels
In 2013, 9,980 cosmetologists, hair stylists, and hairdressers were employed in Minnesota. Seventy-five percent of them were in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. This area had the fourth highest employment level of this occupational category of any area in the country according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Most of the rest of these professionals were dispersed throughout the state according to DEED. No other area had more than 4.5% of the state’s cosmetologists and hair professionals. Both the Duluth area and the southeast balance of state had employment levels of 450.
Areas with even small numbers of cosmetologists, hair stylists, and hairdressers included Grand Forks with 120 of these professionals. The northeast balance of state had 130, while 200 were employed in the Mankato area.
The BLS provides 2013 cosmetology salary levels by percentile for areas throughout Minnesota: