Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy-Tonawanda

Tonawanda, NY · Private for-profit · Certificate · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

with a smaller student body of 139 in Tonawanda, NY.

Program Analysis

At $17,534/yr, Cosmetology graduates from The Salon Professional Academy-Tonawanda land near the $17,289 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 24% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Cosmetology career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

The median debt load of $6,333 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #486 ranking among 1,095 Cosmetology programs places The Salon Professional Academy-Tonawanda in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 30% earnings increase from $17,534 to $22,851 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

The 5 apprenticeship pathways connected to Cosmetology reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

43 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
39
Low End
43
Score
43
High End
Earnings $17,534/yr (1% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (145,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$240K
6.9% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
8 of 8
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Median Debt at Graduation
$6,333
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$22,851
30% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Cosmetology graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Personal service managers, all other $61,340 +6.5% 48%
Makeup artists, theatrical and performance $50,280 +8.1% 66%
First-line supervisors of personal service workers $47,080 +6.7% 59%
Personal service managers, all other
$61,340
+6.5% growth 48% AI-proof
Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
$50,280
+8.1% growth 66% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of personal service workers
$47,080
+6.7% growth 59% AI-proof

View all 8 career paths with full salary data →

Cosmetology Career Guide

Cosmetology opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Cosmetology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Cosmetology Overview

Cosmetology at Other Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy-Tonawanda?
At 43/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Cosmetology programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Can I learn Cosmetology through an apprenticeship instead of The Salon Professional Academy-Tonawanda?
Yes — 5 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Cosmetology career paths, including Barber. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at The Salon Professional Academy-Tonawanda.
Is there demand for Cosmetology workers?
The career paths mapped to Cosmetology have roughly 145,700 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →