Florida·Personal Care and Service Occupations·SOC 39-5012

Best Hairdresser programs in Florida, ranked by enrollment

Provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp.

110 schools in Florida run programs that feed this job, graduating 6,027 people a year. The job pays a median of $29,530 in Florida across about 23,530 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledHairdresserHairstylistHair StylistCosmetologistStylistColoristBeauticianHaircutter
Graduates / yr
6,027
in Florida
Median pay · Florida
$29,530
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
23,530
people employed
Schools
110
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
70%
across those schools
Median net price
$19,984
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Florida that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

6 programs in Florida that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Florida (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Florida page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 12.0401In Florida
4,094
67.9%
106$17,113$10,000
2
CIP 12.0499In Florida
1,427
23.7%
28$17,113$10,000
3
CIP 12.0404In Florida
239
4.0%
9$17,113$10,000
4
CIP 12.0407In Florida
202
3.4%
4$17,113$10,000
5
CIP 12.0406In Florida
61
1.0%
4$17,113$10,000
6
CIP 12.0413In Florida
4
0.1%
3$17,113$10,000

Top 25 schools in Florida

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 76 of the 110 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Celebrity School of Beauty
Miami, FL Private for-profit · 4 feeder programs
420Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other$13,30571%$6,774
2Aveda Institute - South Florida
Davie, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
278Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$17,80673%$27,329
3Beauty Academy of South Florida
Hialeah Gardens, FL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs
243Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other$13,86672%$13,226
4Futura Career Institute
Hialeah, FL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs
242Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design$14,06189%$22,298
5Aveda Institute - Tampa Bay
Clearwater, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
207Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$19,45671%$23,585
6Summit Salon Academy
Tampa, FL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs
145Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$20,15382%$20,233
7Nouvelle Institute
Miami, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
141Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General87%$12,910
8American Institute of Beauty
Largo, FL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs
138Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other$18,32760%$12,662
9Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers - Casselberry
Casselberry, FL Private for-profit · 3 feeder programs
125Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other$15,54073%$18,215
10Boca Beauty Academy
Boca Raton, FL Private for-profit · 5 feeder programs
124Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$16,73090%$22,132
11Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers
Hollywood, FL Private for-profit · 3 feeder programs
124Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other$15,54079%$19,721
12Bene's Career Academy
New Port Richey, FL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs
123Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other$15,32563%$23,002
13Daytona State College
Daytona Beach, FL Public · 1 feeder programs
116Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$20,21243%
14The Salon Professional Academy - Melbourne
Melbourne, FL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs
102Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$18,27586%$22,463
15Boca Beauty Academy - Parkland
Parkland, FL Private for-profit · 3 feeder programs
100Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$16,73086%$17,482
16Hollywood Institute
Margate, FL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs
96Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other$17,03378%$19,984
17Cortiva Institute
Maitland, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
95Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other$21,85670%$30,738
18Cortiva Institute
Maitland, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
95Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other$21,85679%$31,157
19Summit Salon Academy - Gainesville
Gainesville, FL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs
95Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$18,06776%$17,404
20Aveda Institute - Fort Myers
Fort Myers, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
85Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$18,75268%$27,723
21Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, FL Public · 1 feeder programs
85Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$18,41145%
22Empire Beauty School - Lakeland
Lakeland, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
84Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$18,63959%$18,857
23Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers - West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, FL Private for-profit · 3 feeder programs
83Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other$15,54083%$20,078
24Palm Beach State College
Lake Worth, FL Public · 1 feeder programs
80Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$24,36141%
25Paul Mitchell the School - Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
79Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General$19,23479%$21,903

All 110 schools in Florida

Every school in Florida with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in Florida that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Celebrity School of BeautyMiamiPrivate for-profit4204
Aveda Institute - South FloridaDaviePrivate for-profit2781
Beauty Academy of South FloridaHialeah GardensPrivate for-profit2432
Futura Career InstituteHialeahPrivate for-profit2422
Aveda Institute - Tampa BayClearwaterPrivate for-profit2071
Summit Salon AcademyTampaPrivate for-profit1452
Nouvelle InstituteMiamiPrivate for-profit1411
American Institute of BeautyLargoPrivate for-profit1382
Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers - CasselberryCasselberryPrivate for-profit1253
Boca Beauty AcademyBoca RatonPrivate for-profit1245
Hollywood Institute of Beauty CareersHollywoodPrivate for-profit1243
Bene's Career AcademyNew Port RicheyPrivate for-profit1232
Daytona State CollegeDaytona BeachPublic1161
The Salon Professional Academy - MelbourneMelbournePrivate for-profit1022
Boca Beauty Academy - ParklandParklandPrivate for-profit1003

What hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn in Florida

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Florida
$29,530
Mean annual
$36,210
Jobs in state
23,530
What the range looks like
10th pct$27,450Median$29,53090th pct$58,320
Versus the national median
-17.5%

U.S. median $35,790. Florida pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
1.21×

Concentrated here: Florida employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.

Metro areas in Florida

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
$29,520median
4,540 jobs
Naples-Marco Island, FL
$33,480median
800 jobs
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL
$29,690median
1,540 jobs
Sebring, FL
$36,000median
30 jobs
Port St. Lucie, FL
$29,200median
420 jobs
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL
$29,940median
460 jobs
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
$29,790median
4,910 jobs
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
$29,760median
1,010 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+5.6%
Faster than average
Openings per year
75,800
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
32,200
575,200 → 607,400
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists page.

How to become a Hairdresser

Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Top skills

Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive LearningMonitoringReading Comprehension

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Florida

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 8 majors mapped to Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists8 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 12.0401Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General
  • 12.0404Electrolysis/Electrology and Electrolysis Technician
  • 12.0406Make-Up Artist/Specialist
  • 12.0407Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design
  • 12.0411Permanent Cosmetics/Makeup and Tattooing
  • 12.0412Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager
  • 12.0413Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor
  • 12.0499Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other

Common questions

Answers for people weighing hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists programs in Florida.

What degree do you need to become a Hairdresser?+

Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General, which awarded 4,094 degrees in Florida in 2024-25, 67.9% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Hairdresser?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 6 programs to this occupation. The largest are Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services. Together they graduate about 6,027 people a year in Florida.

How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn in Florida?+

The median is $29,530 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 17.5% below the U.S. median of $35,790. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists growing?+

BLS projects a +5.6% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, faster than average, with roughly 75,800 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Florida?+

110 institutions in Florida reported graduates from at least one of the 6 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Hairdresser, Hairstylist, Hair Stylist, Cosmetologist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 39-5012.

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in other statesCaliforniaTexasGeorgiaPennsylvaniaNorth CarolinaIllinoisNew YorkLouisiana

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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