Cosmetologist salaries in Virginia in 2013 were the fifth highest in the country according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Salaries were especially high in the Richmond area, which is actually the tenth highest paying metropolitan area in the country for cosmetologists.
The median 2012 cosmetologist salary in Virginia was $23,479 according to the state’s Employment Commission. Experienced cosmetologists earned $34,782 a year on average. This was twice the salary level of those new to the profession who earned an average of $17,153 a year.
These official salary figures do not take tipping into account, so they generally underestimate the actual take home pay of these professionals.
Job Growth Rates for Virginia’s Hair and Nail Professionals
Hairdressers, hairstylists and manicurists should all see an increase in the number of jobs between 2012 and 2022. The number of jobs for manicurists should increase at a faster rate than those for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists. The job growth rate for manicurists is expected to be 13.76% during this time frame in contrast to 10.92% for hair professionals.
Substantially more cosmetologists, hairstylists, and hairdressers were employed in Virginia in 2012. Their numbers totaled 21,829. In contrast, 1,214 manicurists were employed that year.
The BLS provides an analysis of 2013 cosmetologist salaries in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of Virginia:
Salaries for Nail Technicians in Virginia
While cosmetologists have formal training in treating nails, salons typically have dedicated professionals licensed as nail technicians to beautify their customers’ nails.
The median salary of Virginia’s manicurists was $19,173. Experienced manicurists earned $26,292 on average while those new to the field averaged $16,949.