As of 2013, Florida had the highest employment level for cosmetologists in the country according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The Palm Coast area had the fourth highest employment level for cosmetologists, hairdressers, and hairstylists of any metropolitan area in the country.
The number of cosmetology jobs in Florida is expected to increase to even higher levels between 2013 and 2021 according to the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity. The agency estimates a 10% increase in the number of job during this period.
The average 2014 cosmetologist salary in Florida for those with experience was $31,096. Professionals entering the workforce earned $17,493 on average, while the average salary was $26,562
An Analysis of Cosmetologist Salaries in Florida
Cosmetologist salaries in Florida varied a great deal depending on which metropolitan area these professionals practiced in. There was a difference of $10,483 between the highest and lowest average salaries. Cosmetologists in the average and experienced categories earned the most in the Cape Coral area, while entry-level salaries were highest in the North Port area:
Florida Area
Average
Entry
Experienced
Cape Coral
$32302
$19947
$38380
Crestview
$23608
$17534
$26645
Deltona
$24440
$17555
$27872
Gainesville
$26582
$17451
$31158
Jacksonville
$28059
$17222
$33488
Lakeland
$28267
$17472
$33675
Lauderdale
$25251
$17430
$29162
North Port
$31907
$21570
$37066
Orlando
$24066
$17638
$27248
Palm Bay
$24794
$18949
$27726
Palm Coast
$21819
$17430
$24024
Pensacola
$31346
$21112
$36462
Port St. Lucie
$31346
$21112
$36462
Punta Gorda
$24586
$17514
$28142
Sebastian
$24315
$17514
$27726
Tallahassee
$25730
$17326
$29910
West Palm Beach
$25355
$17306
$29390
Since customers generally tip beauticians 10-25%, the take home pay of cosmetologists is generally higher than that reported here.
The BLS provides a detailed breakdown of Florida cosmetology salary levels in key regions as of 2013:
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
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
940
15.40
32040
13.38
19.30
26.18
27830
40140
54450
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin FL
330
11.30
23500
10.04
12.71
16.48
20880
26430
34280
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach FL
440
11.69
24310
10.72
13.36
16.37
22290
27800
34060
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach FL Metropolitan Division
2180
12.10
25170
10.60
13.55
17.22
22040
28190
35830
Gainesville FL
270
12.75
26520
10.82
14.33
21.39
22500
29800
44490
Jacksonville FL
1390
13.48
28050
10.36
14.13
26.73
21550
29390
55600
Lakeland-Winter Haven FL
380
13.55
28180
11.13
18.06
23.51
23160
37560
48900
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach FL
7710
12.99
27020
10.96
14.08
20.77
22800
29290
43200
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall FL Metropolitan Division
3440
12.33
25640
10.67
13.74
18.44
22200
28570
38360
Naples-Marco Island FL
560
13.52
28130
11.38
14.73
24.89
23670
30630
51770
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota FL
1130
15.17
31560
13.58
16.65
21.88
28240
34640
45510
Ocala FL
350
11.30
23500
10.39
12.97
16.08
21620
26980
33440
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford FL
3030
11.54
24010
10.67
12.82
15.33
22190
26660
31890
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville FL
870
11.87
24700
11.17
13.21
14.71
23240
27480
30590
Palm Coast FL
120
10.50
21840
9.98
12.09
13.84
20750
25150
28780
Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach FL
210
11.28
23460
10.82
13.22
14.98
22510
27490
31160
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent FL
310
14.90
31000
12.96
19.57
21.82
26950
40710
45380
Port St. Lucie FL
400
11.15
23200
9.47
12.42
14.60
19700
25830
30370
Punta Gorda FL
Estimate not released
11.80
24530
9.73
14.29
17.90
20240
29710
37220
Sebastian-Vero Beach FL
190
11.64
24210
9.22
12.48
20.18
19170
25960
41980
Tallahassee FL
480
12.38
25740
10.04
13.08
18.23
20890
27210
37930
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater FL
3990
12.21
25410
9.85
13.97
18.32
20490
29050
38110
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach FL Metropolitan Division
2090
15.01
31210
11.55
16.37
30.72
24030
34060
63890
Northwest Florida nonmetropolitan area
90
11.20
23300
9.48
12.73
16.25
19720
26470
33810
Northeast Florida nonmetropolitan area
350
12.20
25380
10.95
14.36
17.46
22770
29880
36320
South Florida nonmetropolitan area
80
10.25
21330
9.88
11.11
12.87
20550
23100
26770
Nail Technician Salaries in Florida
Although cosmetologists have experience in beautifying nails, salons typically hire nail specialists such as manicurists and pedicurists to perform these functions.
The US Department of Labor includes manicurists and pedicurists in a separate occupational category, providing separate salary data for nail technicians:
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
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
Estimate not released
11.47
23850
10.15
13.39
17.52
21100
27850
36450
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach FL Metropolitan Division
Estimate not released
10.16
21130
8.70
9.16
16.71
18110
19060
34760
Jacksonville FL
Estimate not released
12.05
25070
9.05
18.65
21.51
18820
38790
44740
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach FL
720
12.01
24980
9.60
13.54
20.21
19970
28170
42040
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall FL Metropolitan Division
Estimate not released
12.43
25860
9.17
13.68
24.23
19060
28440
50400
Naples-Marco Island FL
40
16.32
33950
14.61
20.81
24.91
30380
43290
51820
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford FL
Estimate not released
11.52
23960
9.12
12.76
19.35
18970
26540
40260
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville FL
Estimate not released
9.79
20360
9.70
10.80
11.46
20180
22470
23850
Port St. Lucie FL
Estimate not released
10.69
22230
10.64
11.52
13.01
22120
23960
27050
Punta Gorda FL
Estimate not released
10.51
21850
10.58
11.21
11.60
22010
23330
24120
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater FL
Estimate not released
10.19
21200
8.96
10.07
14.55
18640
20940
30260
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach FL Metropolitan Division
300
12.51
26020
12.11
13.99
19.18
25190
29100
39890
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