The Average Salary of a Cosmetologist in North Dakota

Most North Dakota cosmetologists earn $8 to $14 per hour.

Aspiring cosmetologists in North Dakota have a choice of seven schools statewide as of September 2011 that are approved by the state board of cosmetology. They are located in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot. Graduates are eligible to take the state licensing examination, which is required before beginning professional work. The average salary of a cosmetologist in North Dakota varies by location.

Average Salary

North Dakota cosmetologists had an average salary of $11.23 per hour as of May 2010, including tips and commissions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That translates to about $23,360 per year. The average salary in North Dakota was around 12 percent lower than the nationwide average for this occupation of $12.74 per hour.

Salary Range

The middle 50 percent of North Dakota cosmetologists in 2010 earned $8.26 to $13.15 per hour, or $17,180 to $27,350 per year. The bottom 10 percent of the pay scale was at or below $7.61 per hour, or $15,830 per year. The top 10 percent of North Dakota cosmetologists were earning more than twice that amount, at $17.48 per hour and higher, or $36,350 per year and more.

Regions

The east-central nonmetropolitan area of the state was the highest-paying area for North Dakota cosmetologists in 2010, at an average salary of $13.40 per hour, or $27,870 per year. The far eastern nonmetropolitan area ranked second, at an average of $12.15 per hour. The lowest average hourly wage was in the far western nonmetropolitan area, at $9.68. Cosmetologists in Bismarck and in the west-central nonmetropolitan area made about $10.70 to $11 per hour on average, and those in Fargo and Grand Forks earned about $11.30 to $11.60.

Comparisons

The average cosmetology salary in North Dakota was about 14 percent higher than that in the lowest-paying state, which was $9.65 per hour in West Virginia. It was about 32 percent lower than the average in the top-paying state, which was $16.58 per hour in Hawaii. Average hourly rates for cosmetologists closest to the North Dakota average were $11.04 in Kansas, $11.05 in Missouri, $11.30 in Kentucky and $11.39 in Oklahoma.

References

• North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology: North Dakota Cosmetology Schools
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Barbers, Cosmetologists, and Other Personal Appearance Workers
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010 -- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2010 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates -- North Dakota
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics Query System