California · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

Best institutions to study Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in California

The Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program prepares students for a diverse career in the beauty and personal care industry. This program is ideal for individuals interested in hair, skin, and nail care, offering various…

Institutions
129
offering CIP 12.04
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
16,210
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$20,065
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
91
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,483
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
70%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$48,290
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose
San Jose Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$24,66016495%$19,590$10,376
2San Jose City College
San Jose Public · Certificate degree
$23,25310634%
3MTI College
Sacramento Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$21,37112277%$22,079$10,550
4Institute of Technology
Clovis Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$21,1844373%$24,518$13,341
5Shasta School of Cosmetology
Redding Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$20,14410878%$25,810
6California College of Barbering and Cosmetology
Stockton Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$20,06520779%$16,966$9,344
7Paul Mitchell the School - Modesto
Modesto Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$20,06021880%$18,062$7,381
8Hoss Lee Academy
Roseville Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$19,79714992%$24,798$6,333
9San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc
San Francisco Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$19,00213287%$18,448$10,556
10Moler Barber College
Oakland Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$18,94725723%$22,135$14,518

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (SOC 39-5012).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+5.6%
Faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~75,800
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$35,250
typically Postsecondary nondegree award

Top skills

Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive LearningReading ComprehensionMonitoring

What Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn in California

Jobs in California
27,080
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$48,290
median $38,660
Best-paying metro
$54,290
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Related careers

Manicurists and Pedicurists
$39,730 avg · 39,210 jobs
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$48,290 avg · 27,080 jobs
Skincare Specialists
$49,910 avg · 11,360 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
$57,200 avg · 9,390 jobs
Personal Service Managers, All Other
$91,450 avg · 2,010 jobs
Barbers
$47,720 avg · 1,390 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in California.

Which Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose tops the list at $24,660. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn in California?+

The average annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in California is $48,290 (median $38,660), across about 27,080 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program?+

The Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program prepares students for a diverse career in the beauty and personal care industry. This program is ideal for individuals interested in hair, skin, and nail care, offering various…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, speaking, critical thinking, active learning, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists?+

The national job outlook is about +5.6% growth with around 75,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in other statesNorth DakotaWyomingMinnesotaVermontNew HampshireNebraskaSouth DakotaWashington

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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