The personal beauty sector is booming. A recent industry report estimates the global market reached $233.56 billion in 2025 and will grow at a 7.22% compound annual rate through 2032. In the United States alone, annual revenue is expected to climb to $75.87 billion.
Training that blends technique and business
According to spray‑tan product and training provider Sjolie, programs that teach both technical skills and business fundamentals are best positioned to capture this growth. Schools that ignore entrepreneurship risk losing students to competitors that offer a more complete curriculum.
Job outlook and earnings
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5% increase in jobs for barbers, hairstylists and cosmetologists between 2024 and 2034, while skincare specialists, manicurists and pedicurists each see a 7% rise—well above the national average. Median annual pay varies, with skincare specialists earning $41,560, manicurists and pedicurists $34,660, and the broader group of barbers and cosmetologists $35,420.
Entrepreneurship on the rise
The Professional Beauty Association notes that self‑employment in personal‑appearance occupations stands at 33%, far higher than the 7% rate across the overall workforce. Hairstylists and cosmetologists lead the way, with 37% operating their own salons or renting chairs in existing establishments.
Data from the Census Bureau shows non‑employer beauty businesses—solopreneurs, studio‑suite renters and independent booth renters—outpaced traditional employer‑based salons for a decade. From 2008 to 2018, non‑employer salons grew 36% and posted a 63% jump in sales, compared with a 17% growth and 48% sales increase for employer‑based salons.
Demographic profile
Women comprise nearly 85% of professionals in personal‑appearance occupations, while workers of Asian ethnicity represent more than 20% of the industry—well above the 7% share in the broader labor market.
Hands‑on beauty education is therefore becoming a fast track to entrepreneurship, equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a sector poised for sustained expansion.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
