Beauty Schools in Massachusetts

According to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools, there are roughly 2,000 beauty schools in the U.S., seeing increasing numbers of students every year. It's likely because cosmetologist jobs are expected to grow faster than average over the 2006-2016 period. Cosmetology is fairly recession-proof--after all, people will always need their hair cut--and advances in science and technology have made personal care treatments easier, more affordable, and more successful than ever. Now is a great time to enroll in cosmetology school.

While beauty schools differ, in general your coursework should include hair and nail care basics, as well as some training in massage or other holistic treatments, and skin care, or esthetics. After completing your program, which can often be done in nine months, you can pursue a career as a hair stylist or barber, nail technician, esthetician, make-up artist, or beauty industry executive.

Why Study Cosmetology in Massachusetts?

As the state with the third highest personal income per capita in the country in 2007, Massachusetts offers plenty of promise for those embarking on new careers. It's home to Boston, the seventh largest metropolitan area in the U.S. And tourist destinations like Cape Cod, with 43 percent of its economic base devoted to tourism, and the Berkshires, with 2.5 million visitors annually, are prime locations for spas, which have increased in number at a rate of 20 percent per year for nearly a decade.

Massachusetts by the Numbers

In 2008, there were 10,170 hair stylists/barbers, earning a mean annual salary of $31,250; 1,510 manicurists and pedicurists, earning a mean annual salary of $25,310; and 960 estheticians, earning a mean annual salary of $34,910.