Loading...
Loading...
The cheapest state to get a cosmetologist license is Nebraska at $30. The most expensive is Alaska at $450. The national average is $202.
Lowest
$30
Nebraska
Average
$202
across 51 states
Median
$195
26 states at or below
Range
$420
spread across states
| # | State | Total Initial Fees | Renewal Fee | CE Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Nebraska | $30+ | $118 | — |
| #2 | New York | $70 | $40/4yr | — |
| #3 | Ohio | $90 | $65 | — |
| #4 | Florida | $95.25 | $45 | — |
| #5 | Kentucky | $100 | $20 | — |
| #5 | Rhode Island | $100 | $25 | — |
| #7 | Wyoming | $101–$136 | $72–$96 | — |
| #8 | Maryland | $104 | $25 | — |
| #9 | Oklahoma | $115 | $80 | — |
| #10 | South Dakota | $120 | $20 | — |
| #11 | California | $125 | $50 | — |
| #12 | Illinois | $137 | $50 (calculated at $25 per year × 2-year cycle) | — |
| #13 | North Carolina | $138–$148 | $60 | — |
| #14 | Georgia | $139 | $50 | — |
| #14 | Indiana | $139 | $40.00 | — |
| #16 | Oregon | $155 | $65 | — |
| #17 | Louisiana | $158 | $25 | — |
| #18 | Colorado | $159 | $40 | — |
| #19 | South Carolina | $162 | $52 | — |
| #20 | Connecticut | $165 | $100.00 | — |
| #21 | North Dakota | $170 | $15 | — |
| #22 | Arkansas | $175 | — | — |
| #23 | Texas | $181 | $72 | — |
| #24 | Minnesota | $190 | $75 | — |
| #25 | Kansas | $195 | $35 | — |
| #25 | Nevada | $195 | $70 | — |
| #27 | Tennessee | $200 | $60 | — |
| #28 | Missouri | $201 | $30 | — |
| #29 | Pennsylvania | $212 | $97 | — |
| #30 | Maine | $214 | $20 | — |
| #31 | Iowa | $225–$260 | $60 | — |
| #32 | District of Columbia | $230 | — | — |
| #32 | Montana | $230 | $80 | — |
| #34 | New Jersey | $232 | $90 | — |
| #35 | Arizona | $240 | $60 | — |
| #36 | Michigan | $245–$265 | $48.00 | — |
| #36 | Mississippi | $245 | $50 (Item A: Practitioner license/renewal) | — |
| #38 | New Hampshire | $247 | $55.00 | — |
| #39 | New Mexico | $250 | $25 | — |
| #40 | Utah | $254 | $52 | — |
| #41 | Alabama | $255 | $100 | — |
| #42 | Vermont | $275 | $130 | — |
| #43 | West Virginia | $278 | $25 | — |
| #44 | Massachusetts | $291 | $68 | — |
| #45 | Hawaii | $292–$365 | $146.00 | — |
| #46 | Idaho | $308 | $25 | — |
| #47 | Virginia | $314 | $120 | — |
| #48 | Washington | $329 | $66 | — |
| #49 | Delaware | $353 | $110 | — |
| #50 | Wisconsin | $418–$427 | $11 | — |
| #51 | Alaska | $450 | $160–$180 | — |
Total initial fees include application, exam, and license fees paid to the state (excludes education/training costs). Where fee ranges are listed, the lower bound is used for ranking. Click any state for full fee details.
Nebraska has the lowest total initial licensing fees at $30. The national average is $202.
Alaska has the highest total initial fees at $450, which is $420 more than the cheapest state.
The average total initial licensing cost across 51 states is $202. Costs range from $30 to $450.
There is significant variation across the 51 states with data. Values range from $30 to $450, with a median of $195.
Get licensing updates