Wisconsin has the fourth highest concentration of cosmetologists in the nation and Eastern Wisconsin is the nation’s nonmetropolitan area with the highest concentration of jobs and the second highest employment rate for this occupation.
The State Board of Cosmetology regulates and licenses beauty occupations in Wisconsin which currently has an unemployment rate of 5.4 percent, which is lower than the national rate and the rates of surrounding states.
Beautician salaries are very competitive in Wisconsin. Most wage tables do not include tips which make up a good portion of the total income of all beauty occupation whether you work as a salaried employee or an independent contractor. Some beauty workers rent a salon booth for which they pay a monthly fee and then operate as their own business. Others elect to freelance – finding jobs wherever they can or offering services in the client’s home. The ability to work as many or as few hours as you want, depending upon your individual circumstances, is one of the biggest advantages of beauty work, whether working as a regular employee or an independent contractor.
You’ll first need to decide which field of beauty work is right for you.
Wisconsin Cosmetology Salary
You must attend 1,800 hours of beauty school training and pass the board exam to receive your cosmetologist license. Cosmetologists are trained in all areas of beauty work, including nail and skin care. According to the 2013 report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the 10,750 cosmetologists working in Wisconsin earned the following:
Cosmetologist annual salaries in different Wisconsin cities are as follows:
Esthetician Salaries in Wisconsin
Estheticians, commonly called skin care specialists, do very well in Wisconsin. You must complete 450 hours of beauty school training in order to qualify to take the board exam. Services provided by estheticians include such procedures as waxes, peels, eyebrow/lash tints and all kinds of facials. The BLS reports the following annual salaries for estheticians in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Nail Technician Salaries
You must complete 300 hours of beauty school training and pass the board exam in order to earn a Wisconsin nail technician license. You will learn all aspects of nail care and providing manicures and pedicures. The demand for nail technicians has increased with the growing trend toward beautiful, unique, and sometimes downright crazy nail treatments! The BLS maintains that there are 500 nail technicians working in Wisconsin (2013) for the following annual salaries.
Makeup Artist Salaries in Wisconsin
At the present time you do not need a license to be a makeup artist in Wisconsin. However, in order to get a good job at a salon, spa, cosmetics store, photo studios or bridal boutique, you’ll probably be required to have a cosmetology or esthetician license. In fact, many openings request someone who is both a hair and makeup artist, especially for special event work, such as weddings.
There are very limited opportunities for theatrical makeup jobs; however, personal appearance makeup artist work can be very lucrative. The following average annual salary ranges in various Wisconsin cities are based on an aggregate of job listings for makeup artists or combination hair-makeup artist or makeup artist/skin care specialist.
- Appleton: $32,000-$39,000
- Eau Claire: $30,000-$38,000
- Green Bay: $32,000-$39,000
- Madison: $35,000-$40,000
- Milwaukee: $32,000-$35,000
- Oshkosh: $31,000-$39,000
- Wausau: $34,000-$43,000
Wisconsin Barber Salary
To become a practicing barber in the state of Wisconsin you must either complete 1,000 hours of training in an approved barber college or 2,000 hours of an apprenticeship under a licensed barber. Barbers are trained in haircutting/styling but also in the care of facial hair like beards and moustaches. Barbers can work in salons, spas or barber shops which are found in large cities and small towns throughout Wisconsin.
The BLS (2013) maintains that the average statewide salaries for barbers are as follows:
The following lists average annual salaries in selected cities based on job listings:
- Green Bay – $32,000
- Milwaukee – $33,000
- Madison – $32,000
- Wausau – $35,000