Cosmetology and Barber Schools Revenue Benchmarks
The average cosmetology and barber schools business in the United States generates $875K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 1,249 cosmetology and barber schools businesses in the U.S., employing 16,356 workers with an average profit margin of 10.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $42K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Cosmetology and Barber Schools Business Actually Do?
Trade schools training students to become licensed cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, or nail technicians. Regulated by state cosmetology boards. Most students pay through Title IV financial aid.
Who buys: Aspiring hair/beauty professionals, career changers.
Average Revenue
$875K
per year
Profit Margin
10.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$67K
per year
Total Businesses
1,249
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$87K
small business avg
Labor Cost
55.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$42K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.4
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Cosmetology and Barber Schools Charge?
Beauty/barber schools charge per program, with financial aid available at accredited schools.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Cosmetology (full 1,500 hrs) | $10,000–20,000 |
Barbering (full 1,500 hrs) | $8,000–18,000 |
Esthetician (600 hrs) | $4,000–10,000 |
Nail tech (350 hrs) | $3,000–7,500 |
Kit/supplies (included or extra) | $500–2,500 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete cosmetology and barber schools business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a cosmetology and barber schools business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the cosmetology and barber schools industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Curriculum & supplies | $3 | $31K | Textbooks, learning software, teaching aids, technology for students. |
Wages & benefits | $55 | $481K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $9 | $77K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $31K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $19 | $168K | Insurance, licensing, IT, admin, professional development. |
Net profit | $10 | $87K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
12.57%
openings/year
Closure Rate
10.09%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.04%
annual
Businesses Closed
561
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Cosmetology and Barber Schools Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
21 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a cosmetology and barber schools business do?
- Trade schools training students to become licensed cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, or nail technicians. Regulated by state cosmetology boards. Most students pay through Title IV financial aid. Aspiring hair/beauty professionals, career changers.
- How much do cosmetology and barber schools charge?
- Beauty/barber schools charge per program, with financial aid available at accredited schools. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average cosmetology and barber schools make per year?
- The average cosmetology and barber schools business generates $875K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $87K per year at a 10.0% profit margin.
- How many cosmetology and barber schools businesses are there in the US?
- There are 1,249 cosmetology and barber schools businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 16,356 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a cosmetology and barber schools business?
- Startup costs for a cosmetology and barber schools business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the cosmetology and barber schools industry?
- The average employee in the cosmetology and barber schools industry earns $42K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The cosmetology and barber schools industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.0% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (12.6% entry vs 10.1% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 59% of cosmetology and barber schools businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 561 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the cosmetology and barber schools industry earns $42,491/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 1,977 establishments employing 18,670 people, the typical business has about 9 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The cosmetology and barber schools industry has grown 28% since 2000 (from 5,301 to 6,785 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Cosmetology and Barber Schools revenue with other industries: