Great news for aspiring beauty, barber, skincare, hair removal, and massage pros: Florida’s beauty and personal-care industry is growing faster than the national average in nearly every specialty. The job outlook is particularly strong for certain specialties in Miami-Dade county.
Based on the latest state and metro-area labor data from the federal government, cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology, massage therapy, and barbering careers are all projected to add jobs in Florida at rates well above the U.S. average through 2034. Massage therapy and barbering are expected to see growth roughly three times the national pace.
For prospective students in south Florida weighing a new beauty or personal care career, the numbers point to this being one of the most promising markets in the country.
Numbers at a Glance: Beauty/Personal Care Job Growth Projections
| Occupation |
Florida employment (2024) |
Florida job growth, 2024–2034 |
U.S. growth, same occupation |
| Cosmetologists & hairstylists |
43,580 |
12% |
6% |
| Skincare specialists (estheticians) |
8,470 |
13% |
7% |
| Manicurists & pedicurists |
5,790 |
12% |
7% |
| Massage therapists |
13,000 |
22% |
15% |
| Barbers |
6,990 |
12% |
4% |
Sources: O*NET OnLine, drawing on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections data, 2025.
Cosmetology & Hairstyling: A Large Field, Still Growing
Cosmetology remains the largest beauty occupation in Florida by far, with 43,580 people currently working as hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists statewide. That number is projected to climb to roughly 48,780 by 2034 — a 12% increase, double the 6% growth rate projected nationally for the same occupation, and enough to generate an estimated 6,190 job openings a year in Florida as the field grows and as working stylists retire or move into other careers.
1
In the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro area specifically, the top 10% of earners can earn $54,850 or more.
2
Esthetics & Skincare: Relatively Strong Earnings
Estheticians are one of the fastest-growing and best-paid categories in this data set. Florida is projected to add roughly 1,090 esthetics jobs over the next decade, a 13% increase that outpaces the 7% national growth rate for the occupation.
3 In the Miami metro specifically, the median wage is $44,220 a year, with top earners in the region clearing $93,310 annually.
4
As med spas and advanced treatment services continue to expand across south Florida, esthetics training looks positioned to keep outpacing the broader beauty industry on both job growth and pay.
Nail Technology: Steady Growth and Resilient Demand
Manicurists and pedicurists in Florida are projected to grow from 5,790 to about 6,500 jobs by 2034, a 12% increase versus 7% nationally, adding an estimated 730 openings a year statewide.
5 The top 10% of Miami-area nail technicians earn $61,040 or more — solid mid-tier earnings in a specialty known for lower upfront training and equipment costs as well as scheduling flexibility.
6
Massage Therapy: the Fastest-Growing Among These Occupations
Of every specialty covered here, massage therapy shows the steepest growth trajectory: Florida employment of massage therapists is projected to jump from 13,000 to nearly 15,900 by 2034, a 22% increase. This is about 1.5 times the already-strong 15% national growth rate, translating to an estimated 2,060 new openings a year in the state.
7
Barbering: Outgrowing the National Trend by 3x
Barbering is a smaller field than cosmetology in raw numbers, but it’s growing much faster relative to the nationwide growth projection. Florida’s projected 12% growth rate for barbers over the next decade is three times the 4% growth rate projected nationally, with about 850 new openings a year expected statewide.
9
What This Means if You’re Choosing a Program
The headline for anyone comparing beauty career paths in the Miami area isn’t just that the broader industry is growing — it’s growing unevenly, and the biggest opportunities are concentrated in specialization rather than general services. Esthetics pays the highest regional median wage of any specialty in this comparison even though it’s a smaller field than cosmetology, and massage therapy is adding jobs in Florida at nearly double the rate of hairstyling.
That doesn’t make one license better than another. Cosmetology remains by far the largest and most flexible credential, with the widest range of career paths and the most job openings in absolute terms. However, the career data does suggest that students entering the field today might think about the specialties where regional demand and pay are both accelerating.
Curious about how Celebrity School of Beauty helps students land jobs after graduation? Talk to our
admissions team to get connected with answers you have about this career journey.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine, Florida Employment Trends: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (39-5012.00), sourced from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024–2034. https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/39-5012.00?st=FL
- O*NET OnLine, Florida Wages: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (39-5012.00), Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025. https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/39-5012.00?st=FL
- O*NET OnLine, Florida Employment Trends: Skincare Specialists (39-5094.00), BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034. https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/39-5094.00?st=FL
- O*NET OnLine, Florida Wages: Skincare Specialists (39-5094.00), Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area, 2025. https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/39-5094.00?st=FL
- O*NET OnLine, Florida Employment Trends: Manicurists and Pedicurists (39-5092.00), BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034. https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/39-5092.00?st=FL
- O*NET OnLine, Florida Wages: Manicurists and Pedicurists (39-5092.00), Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area, 2025. https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/39-5092.00?st=FL
- O*NET OnLine, Florida Employment Trends: Massage Therapists (31-9011.00), BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034. https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/31-9011.00?st=FL
- O*NET OnLine, Florida Wages: Massage Therapists (31-9011.00), Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area, 2025. https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/31-9011.00?st=FL
- O*NET OnLine, Florida Employment Trends: Barbers (39-5011.00), BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034. https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/39-5011.00?st=FL
Data current as of 2025 BLS releases as reflected in O*NET OnLine. Data pulled September 2026. 
