39 Series · SOC 39-5012
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $35,790
- Median / year
- +1.5%
- 2024→2025
- $71,190
- Top 10% earn
- +5.6%
- Growth '24–'34
- 305,710
- Estimated US jobs
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn a median of $35,790 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $35,790, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $27,040 (10th percentile) to $71,190 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 305,710 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Washington ($59,510).
The pay verdict
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn a median of $35,790, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 4% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Personal Care and Service, it ranks #22 of 32 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 5.6% by 2034.
- $35,790
- Median annual wage
- Top 96%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #22 of 32
- in Personal Care and Service
- 2.6×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $59,510. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists moved from $26,090 in May 2019 to $35,790 in May 2025 (+37.2%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists sits +12.7 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (SOC 39-5012) has a national median of $35,790 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $27,040 to $71,190, and the published mean is $43,960. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 305,710 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 52 state or territory areas and 451 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $35,250 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $35,790 in May 2025, a rise of $540 (+1.5%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +5.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as faster than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 75,800 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Postsecondary nondegree award as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Personal Care and Service Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $59,510, which is +66% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Corvallis, OR at $61,880. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$35,790
per year
Median Hourly
$17.21/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$43,960
average
Employment
305,710
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$35,790 Bottom 4% higher than 4% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 (this entry) | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$35,790 · 4th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 39-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Childcare Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.9%, Median annual wage $34980
- Amusement and Recrea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.4%, Median annual wage $32150
- Recreation Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $36560
- Exercise Trainers an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.9%, Median annual wage $47160
- Hairdressers, Hairst…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $35790
- Animal Caretakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.1%, Median annual wage $35360
- Manicurists and Pedi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $35760
- Ushers, Lobby Attend…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $32910
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $48590
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.3%, Median annual wage $48560
- Residential Advisors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $42240
- Gambling Dealers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.6%, Median annual wage $34320
- Skincare Specialists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $45330
- Personal Care and Se…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $41600
- Tour and Travel Guides: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.1%, Median annual wage $38120
- Concierges: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.3%, Median annual wage $38950
- Funeral Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.1%, Median annual wage $35680
- Baggage Porters and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.6%, Median annual wage $37080
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2%, Median annual wage $63820
- Morticians, Undertak…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.1%, Median annual wage $55010
- Animal Trainers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $39990
- Locker Room, Coatroo…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $36300
- Barbers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $38210
- Gambling Service Wor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.6%, Median annual wage $36310
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+5.6%
Faster than average
Annual Openings
75,800
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+32,200
575,200 (2024) → 607,400 (2034)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Personal Care and Service Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
2/100
Danger Index
8.8/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
- ▸ Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
- ▸ Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
- ▸ Schedule client appointments.
- ▸ Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
- ▸ Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.
- ▸ Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
- ▸ Train or supervise other hairstylists, hairdressers, and assistants.
- ▸ Massage and treat scalp for hygienic and remedial purposes, using hands, fingers, or vibrating equipment.
- ▸ Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $23,660 |
| 2016 | $24,260 |
| 2017 | $24,850 |
| 2018 | $24,730 |
| 2019 | $26,090 |
| 2020 | $27,380 |
| 2021 | $29,670 |
| 2022 | $33,290 |
| 2023 | $34,970 |
| 2024 | $35,250 |
| 2025 | $35,790 |
2015 median
$23,660
2025 median
$35,790
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$9,700 (+37.2%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+5.4%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $23,660 | First banked release | 348,010 |
| May 2016 | $24,260 | +2.5% | 352,380 |
| May 2017 | $24,850 | +2.4% | 351,910 |
| May 2018 | $24,730 | -0.5% | 377,210 |
| May 2019 | $26,090 | Classification break | 385,960 |
| May 2020 | $27,380 | +4.9% | 302,410 |
| May 2021 | $29,670 | +8.4% | 285,980 |
| May 2022 | $33,290 | +12.2% | 298,050 |
| May 2023 | $34,970 | +5.0% | 294,840 |
| May 2024 | $35,250 | +0.8% | 295,460 |
| May 2025 | $35,790 | +1.5% | 305,710 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $23,660 in May 2015 to $35,790 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +5.4% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 385,960 in May 2019 to 305,710 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $59,510 | +66% above national |
| 2 | Oregon | $57,580 | +61% above national |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $54,570 | +52% above national |
| 4 | South Dakota | $49,800 | +39% above national |
| 5 | Vermont | $48,650 | +36% above national |
| 6 | Connecticut | $44,620 | +25% above national |
| 7 | Maine | $44,000 | +23% above national |
| 8 | Minnesota | $39,170 | +9% above national |
| 9 | California | $38,660 | +8% above national |
| 10 | North Carolina | $38,410 | +7% above national |
| 11 | Montana | $38,000 | +6% above national |
| 12 | New Mexico | $37,750 | +5% above national |
| 13 | Colorado | $37,690 | +5% above national |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $37,290 | +4% above national |
| 15 | Arizona | $36,810 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $36,790 | +3% above national |
| 17 | Maryland | $36,420 | +2% above national |
| 18 | Ohio | $36,260 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $36,230 | +1% above national |
| 20 | New Jersey | $36,150 | +1% above national |
| 21 | New York | $35,760 | same as national |
| 22 | Iowa | $35,700 | same as national |
| 23 | Idaho | $35,480 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Utah | $35,140 | 2% below national |
| 25 | Hawaii | $35,040 | 2% below national |
| 26 | North Dakota | $34,850 | 3% below national |
| 27 | Michigan | $34,820 | 3% below national |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $34,650 | 3% below national |
| 29 | Georgia | $34,560 | 3% below national |
| 30 | West Virginia | $34,480 | 4% below national |
| 31 | Delaware | $34,350 | 4% below national |
| 32 | Nebraska | $34,320 | 4% below national |
| 33 | Illinois | $34,040 | 5% below national |
| 34 | Nevada | $33,840 | 5% below national |
| 35 | South Carolina | $33,700 | 6% below national |
| 36 | Indiana | $32,830 | 8% below national |
| 37 | Alaska | $32,150 | 10% below national |
| 38 | Tennessee | $31,310 | 13% below national |
| 39 | Rhode Island | $31,200 | 13% below national |
| 40 | Missouri | $30,750 | 14% below national |
| 41 | Texas | $30,680 | 14% below national |
| 42 | Kentucky | $29,840 | 17% below national |
| 43 | Kansas | $29,710 | 17% below national |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $29,650 | 17% below national |
| 45 | Florida | $29,530 | 17% below national |
| 46 | Guam | $29,500 | 18% below national |
| 47 | Wyoming | $29,170 | 18% below national |
| 48 | Alabama | $29,150 | 19% below national |
| 49 | Arkansas | $28,830 | 19% below national |
| 50 | Mississippi | $27,560 | 23% below national |
| 51 | Louisiana | $26,030 | 27% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $22,090 | 38% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 349 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corvallis, OR | $61,880 | +73% above national |
| 2 | Bellingham, WA | $61,820 | +73% above national |
| 3 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $61,440 | +72% above national |
| 4 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $60,710 | +70% above national |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $59,810 | +67% above national |
| 6 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $59,610 | +67% above national |
| 7 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $58,740 | +64% above national |
| 8 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $58,150 | +62% above national |
| 9 | Bend, OR | $51,640 | +44% above national |
| 10 | Salem, OR | $50,960 | +42% above national |
| 11 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $50,500 | +41% above national |
| 12 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $49,840 | +39% above national |
| 13 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $49,640 | +39% above national |
| 14 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $49,570 | +39% above national |
| 15 | Medford, OR | $49,480 | +38% above national |
| 16 | Rapid City, SD | $48,440 | +35% above national |
| 17 | Boulder, CO | $48,120 | +34% above national |
| 18 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $48,060 | +34% above national |
| 19 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,520 | +30% above national |
| 20 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $46,470 | +30% above national |
| 21 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $46,460 | +30% above national |
| 22 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $46,310 | +29% above national |
| 23 | Yakima, WA | $46,270 | +29% above national |
| 24 | Greeley, CO | $44,380 | +24% above national |
| 25 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $44,270 | +24% above national |
| 26 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $43,700 | +22% above national |
| 27 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,500 | +22% above national |
| 28 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,410 | +21% above national |
| 29 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $42,650 | +19% above national |
| 30 | Great Falls, MT | $42,450 | +19% above national |
| 31 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $42,400 | +18% above national |
| 32 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $42,350 | +18% above national |
| 33 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $41,230 | +15% above national |
| 34 | Billings, MT | $40,950 | +14% above national |
| 35 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $40,720 | +14% above national |
| 36 | Asheville, NC | $40,620 | +13% above national |
| 37 | Jacksonville, NC | $39,990 | +12% above national |
| 38 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $39,990 | +12% above national |
| 39 | Napa, CA | $39,610 | +11% above national |
| 40 | Rochester, MN | $39,460 | +10% above national |
| 41 | Salisbury, MD | $39,400 | +10% above national |
| 42 | Winston-Salem, NC | $38,980 | +9% above national |
| 43 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $38,810 | +8% above national |
| 44 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $38,740 | +8% above national |
| 45 | Vallejo, CA | $38,640 | +8% above national |
| 46 | Tucson, AZ | $38,590 | +8% above national |
| 47 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,530 | +8% above national |
| 48 | Albuquerque, NM | $38,330 | +7% above national |
| 49 | Fayetteville, NC | $38,290 | +7% above national |
| 50 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,280 | +7% above national |
| 51 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $38,200 | +7% above national |
| 52 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $38,190 | +7% above national |
| 53 | Helena, MT | $38,160 | +7% above national |
| 54 | Akron, OH | $38,100 | +6% above national |
| 55 | Pittsburgh, PA | $38,100 | +6% above national |
| 56 | Salinas, CA | $37,970 | +6% above national |
| 57 | Lebanon, PA | $37,920 | +6% above national |
| 58 | Chico, CA | $37,880 | +6% above national |
| 59 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $37,820 | +6% above national |
| 60 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $37,690 | +5% above national |
| 61 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,690 | +5% above national |
| 62 | Vineland, NJ | $37,680 | +5% above national |
| 63 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $37,620 | +5% above national |
| 64 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $37,440 | +5% above national |
| 65 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $37,430 | +5% above national |
| 66 | Lexington Park, MD | $37,420 | +5% above national |
| 67 | Flagstaff, AZ | $37,390 | +4% above national |
| 68 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $37,380 | +4% above national |
| 69 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $37,380 | +4% above national |
| 70 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,350 | +4% above national |
| 71 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37,320 | +4% above national |
| 72 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $37,290 | +4% above national |
| 73 | Wilmington, NC | $37,230 | +4% above national |
| 74 | Sheboygan, WI | $37,210 | +4% above national |
| 75 | Yuba City, CA | $37,180 | +4% above national |
| 76 | Bangor, ME | $37,050 | +4% above national |
| 77 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,020 | +3% above national |
| 78 | Modesto, CA | $36,960 | +3% above national |
| 79 | Niles, MI | $36,960 | +3% above national |
| 80 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $36,900 | +3% above national |
| 81 | Rochester, NY | $36,830 | +3% above national |
| 82 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $36,810 | +3% above national |
| 83 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,790 | +3% above national |
| 84 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $36,780 | +3% above national |
| 85 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $36,760 | +3% above national |
| 86 | Springfield, MA | $36,690 | +3% above national |
| 87 | Colorado Springs, CO | $36,680 | +2% above national |
| 88 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $36,620 | +2% above national |
| 89 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $36,610 | +2% above national |
| 90 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $36,590 | +2% above national |
| 91 | Visalia, CA | $36,570 | +2% above national |
| 92 | State College, PA | $36,540 | +2% above national |
| 93 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $36,530 | +2% above national |
| 94 | Kenosha, WI | $36,520 | +2% above national |
| 95 | Grand Junction, CO | $36,500 | +2% above national |
| 96 | Madison, WI | $36,490 | +2% above national |
| 97 | Reno, NV | $36,490 | +2% above national |
| 98 | New Haven, CT | $36,480 | +2% above national |
| 99 | Toledo, OH | $36,440 | +2% above national |
| 100 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $36,430 | +2% above national |
| 101 | Worcester, MA | $36,430 | +2% above national |
| 102 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $36,410 | +2% above national |
| 103 | Omaha, NE-IA | $36,390 | +2% above national |
| 104 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $36,370 | +2% above national |
| 105 | Reading, PA | $36,350 | +2% above national |
| 106 | Appleton, WI | $36,260 | +1% above national |
| 107 | Columbus, OH | $36,260 | +1% above national |
| 108 | Lawrence, KS | $36,180 | +1% above national |
| 109 | Ames, IA | $36,170 | +1% above national |
| 110 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $36,120 | +1% above national |
| 111 | Gettysburg, PA | $36,100 | +1% above national |
| 112 | York-Hanover, PA | $36,050 | +1% above national |
| 113 | Sebring, FL | $36,000 | +1% above national |
| 114 | Iowa City, IA | $35,950 | same as national |
| 115 | Columbia, MO | $35,900 | same as national |
| 116 | Boise City, ID | $35,890 | same as national |
| 117 | Fresno, CA | $35,880 | same as national |
| 118 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,770 | same as national |
| 119 | Cleveland, OH | $35,640 | same as national |
| 120 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $35,640 | same as national |
| 121 | Midland, MI | $35,580 | 1% below national |
| 122 | Pittsfield, MA | $35,550 | 1% below national |
| 123 | Erie, PA | $35,540 | 1% below national |
| 124 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $35,540 | 1% below national |
| 125 | Lancaster, PA | $35,510 | 1% below national |
| 126 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $35,500 | 1% below national |
| 127 | Ann Arbor, MI | $35,490 | 1% below national |
| 128 | Green Bay, WI | $35,490 | 1% below national |
| 129 | Dubuque, IA | $35,360 | 1% below national |
| 130 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $35,360 | 1% below national |
| 131 | Carson City, NV | $35,350 | 1% below national |
| 132 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $35,330 | 1% below national |
| 133 | St. Cloud, MN | $35,310 | 1% below national |
| 134 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $35,270 | 1% below national |
| 135 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $35,220 | 2% below national |
| 136 | Eau Claire, WI | $35,140 | 2% below national |
| 137 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $35,100 | 2% below national |
| 138 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $35,090 | 2% below national |
| 139 | Duluth, MN-WI | $35,080 | 2% below national |
| 140 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $35,010 | 2% below national |
| 141 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $35,010 | 2% below national |
| 142 | Mankato, MN | $35,010 | 2% below national |
| 143 | Greenville, NC | $34,980 | 2% below national |
| 144 | Yuma, AZ | $34,970 | 2% below national |
| 145 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $34,960 | 2% below national |
| 146 | Traverse City, MI | $34,950 | 2% below national |
| 147 | Redding, CA | $34,930 | 2% below national |
| 148 | Fargo, ND-MN | $34,910 | 2% below national |
| 149 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $34,860 | 3% below national |
| 150 | Syracuse, NY | $34,810 | 3% below national |
| 151 | Battle Creek, MI | $34,770 | 3% below national |
| 152 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $34,730 | 3% below national |
| 153 | Johnstown, PA | $34,720 | 3% below national |
| 154 | Kingston, NY | $34,720 | 3% below national |
| 155 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $34,710 | 3% below national |
| 156 | Burlington, NC | $34,700 | 3% below national |
| 157 | Bismarck, ND | $34,680 | 3% below national |
| 158 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $34,670 | 3% below national |
| 159 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $34,640 | 3% below national |
| 160 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $34,430 | 4% below national |
| 161 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $34,380 | 4% below national |
| 162 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $34,260 | 4% below national |
| 163 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $34,110 | 5% below national |
| 164 | Wausau, WI | $34,050 | 5% below national |
| 165 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $33,960 | 5% below national |
| 166 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $33,850 | 5% below national |
| 167 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $33,840 | 5% below national |
| 168 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $33,810 | 6% below national |
| 169 | Pocatello, ID | $33,760 | 6% below national |
| 170 | Saginaw, MI | $33,650 | 6% below national |
| 171 | Spartanburg, SC | $33,640 | 6% below national |
| 172 | Binghamton, NY | $33,620 | 6% below national |
| 173 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $33,620 | 6% below national |
| 174 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $33,580 | 6% below national |
| 175 | Lima, OH | $33,530 | 6% below national |
| 176 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $33,510 | 6% below national |
| 177 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $33,480 | 6% below national |
| 178 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $33,350 | 7% below national |
| 179 | Pueblo, CO | $33,280 | 7% below national |
| 180 | Springfield, OH | $33,280 | 7% below national |
| 181 | Idaho Falls, ID | $33,080 | 8% below national |
| 182 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $32,950 | 8% below national |
| 183 | Morgantown, WV | $32,790 | 8% below national |
| 184 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $32,710 | 9% below national |
| 185 | Decatur, IL | $32,620 | 9% below national |
| 186 | Utica-Rome, NY | $32,520 | 9% below national |
| 187 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $32,390 | 9% below national |
| 188 | Peoria, IL | $32,280 | 10% below national |
| 189 | Anchorage, AK | $32,150 | 10% below national |
| 190 | Minot, ND | $32,030 | 11% below national |
| 191 | Fond du Lac, WI | $31,810 | 11% below national |
| 192 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $31,720 | 11% below national |
| 193 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $31,720 | 11% below national |
| 194 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $31,620 | 12% below national |
| 195 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $31,520 | 12% below national |
| 196 | Columbus, IN | $31,300 | 13% below national |
| 197 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $31,270 | 13% below national |
| 198 | Dover, DE | $31,200 | 13% below national |
| 199 | Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 13% below national |
| 200 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $31,200 | 13% below national |
| 201 | Springfield, IL | $31,200 | 13% below national |
| 202 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $31,110 | 13% below national |
| 203 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $31,080 | 13% below national |
| 204 | Muncie, IN | $31,020 | 13% below national |
| 205 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $31,020 | 13% below national |
| 206 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $31,000 | 13% below national |
| 207 | Santa Fe, NM | $30,990 | 13% below national |
| 208 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $30,980 | 13% below national |
| 209 | San Angelo, TX | $30,900 | 14% below national |
| 210 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $30,820 | 14% below national |
| 211 | Florence, SC | $30,810 | 14% below national |
| 212 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $30,770 | 14% below national |
| 213 | Goldsboro, NC | $30,740 | 14% below national |
| 214 | Grand Island, NE | $30,740 | 14% below national |
| 215 | Bay City, MI | $30,720 | 14% below national |
| 216 | Columbia, SC | $30,710 | 14% below national |
| 217 | Monroe, MI | $30,690 | 14% below national |
| 218 | Knoxville, TN | $30,650 | 14% below national |
| 219 | Jackson, MI | $30,640 | 14% below national |
| 220 | Flint, MI | $30,610 | 14% below national |
| 221 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $30,590 | 15% below national |
| 222 | Williamsport, PA | $30,580 | 15% below national |
| 223 | Logan, UT-ID | $30,560 | 15% below national |
| 224 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $30,550 | 15% below national |
| 225 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $30,530 | 15% below national |
| 226 | Montgomery, AL | $30,530 | 15% below national |
| 227 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $30,490 | 15% below national |
| 228 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $30,460 | 15% below national |
| 229 | Lincoln, NE | $30,440 | 15% below national |
| 230 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $30,410 | 15% below national |
| 231 | Cleveland, TN | $30,390 | 15% below national |
| 232 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $30,380 | 15% below national |
| 233 | Bloomington, IN | $30,360 | 15% below national |
| 234 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $30,330 | 15% below national |
| 235 | Kokomo, IN | $30,320 | 15% below national |
| 236 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $30,260 | 15% below national |
| 237 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $30,250 | 15% below national |
| 238 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $30,250 | 15% below national |
| 239 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $30,250 | 15% below national |
| 240 | Savannah, GA | $30,210 | 16% below national |
| 241 | St. George, UT | $30,200 | 16% below national |
| 242 | Altoona, PA | $30,090 | 16% below national |
| 243 | Ogden, UT | $30,080 | 16% below national |
| 244 | Midland, TX | $30,040 | 16% below national |
| 245 | Fort Wayne, IN | $29,950 | 16% below national |
| 246 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $29,940 | 16% below national |
| 247 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $29,900 | 16% below national |
| 248 | Tulsa, OK | $29,860 | 17% below national |
| 249 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $29,850 | 17% below national |
| 250 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $29,830 | 17% below national |
| 251 | Columbus, GA-AL | $29,790 | 17% below national |
| 252 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $29,790 | 17% below national |
| 253 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $29,780 | 17% below national |
| 254 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $29,760 | 17% below national |
| 255 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $29,700 | 17% below national |
| 256 | Evansville, IN | $29,700 | 17% below national |
| 257 | Manhattan, KS | $29,700 | 17% below national |
| 258 | Mobile, AL | $29,700 | 17% below national |
| 259 | Oklahoma City, OK | $29,700 | 17% below national |
| 260 | Mansfield, OH | $29,690 | 17% below national |
| 261 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $29,690 | 17% below national |
| 262 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,580 | 17% below national |
| 263 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $29,520 | 18% below national |
| 264 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $29,520 | 18% below national |
| 265 | Springfield, MO | $29,500 | 18% below national |
| 266 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $29,470 | 18% below national |
| 267 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $29,430 | 18% below national |
| 268 | Cheyenne, WY | $29,260 | 18% below national |
| 269 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $29,250 | 18% below national |
| 270 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $29,230 | 18% below national |
| 271 | Morristown, TN | $29,210 | 18% below national |
| 272 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $29,200 | 18% below national |
| 273 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $29,200 | 18% below national |
| 274 | Punta Gorda, FL | $29,160 | 19% below national |
| 275 | Topeka, KS | $29,160 | 19% below national |
| 276 | Huntsville, AL | $29,150 | 19% below national |
| 277 | Waco, TX | $29,110 | 19% below national |
| 278 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $29,050 | 19% below national |
| 279 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $29,030 | 19% below national |
| 280 | Sandusky, OH | $29,030 | 19% below national |
| 281 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $29,020 | 19% below national |
| 282 | Tallahassee, FL | $29,010 | 19% below national |
| 283 | Birmingham, AL | $29,000 | 19% below national |
| 284 | Johnson City, TN | $28,980 | 19% below national |
| 285 | Gainesville, GA | $28,930 | 19% below national |
| 286 | Jacksonville, FL | $28,900 | 19% below national |
| 287 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,820 | 19% below national |
| 288 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,800 | 20% below national |
| 289 | Sumter, SC | $28,780 | 20% below national |
| 290 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $28,730 | 20% below national |
| 291 | Charlottesville, VA | $28,720 | 20% below national |
| 292 | Hot Springs, AR | $28,680 | 20% below national |
| 293 | Jefferson City, MO | $28,630 | 20% below national |
| 294 | Lubbock, TX | $28,630 | 20% below national |
| 295 | Beckley, WV | $28,610 | 20% below national |
| 296 | Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 20% below national |
| 297 | Bowling Green, KY | $28,580 | 20% below national |
| 298 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $28,550 | 20% below national |
| 299 | Decatur, AL | $28,430 | 21% below national |
| 300 | Elizabethtown, KY | $28,390 | 21% below national |
| 301 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $28,370 | 21% below national |
| 302 | Paducah, KY-IL | $28,350 | 21% below national |
| 303 | Wichita, KS | $28,340 | 21% below national |
| 304 | Terre Haute, IN | $28,280 | 21% below national |
| 305 | Abilene, TX | $28,230 | 21% below national |
| 306 | Corpus Christi, TX | $28,210 | 21% below national |
| 307 | Dothan, AL | $28,150 | 21% below national |
| 308 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $28,090 | 22% below national |
| 309 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $28,080 | 22% below national |
| 310 | Lawton, OK | $28,050 | 22% below national |
| 311 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $27,980 | 22% below national |
| 312 | Gainesville, FL | $27,930 | 22% below national |
| 313 | Owensboro, KY | $27,890 | 22% below national |
| 314 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $27,860 | 22% below national |
| 315 | Wichita Falls, TX | $27,830 | 22% below national |
| 316 | Amarillo, TX | $27,810 | 22% below national |
| 317 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $27,790 | 22% below national |
| 318 | Roanoke, VA | $27,750 | 22% below national |
| 319 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $27,750 | 22% below national |
| 320 | Casper, WY | $27,740 | 22% below national |
| 321 | Harrisonburg, VA | $27,730 | 23% below national |
| 322 | Longview, TX | $27,640 | 23% below national |
| 323 | Jonesboro, AR | $27,570 | 23% below national |
| 324 | Farmington, NM | $27,360 | 24% below national |
| 325 | Rocky Mount, NC | $27,330 | 24% below national |
| 326 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $27,310 | 24% below national |
| 327 | Ocala, FL | $27,180 | 24% below national |
| 328 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $27,170 | 24% below national |
| 329 | Gadsden, AL | $27,070 | 24% below national |
| 330 | Jackson, MS | $26,990 | 25% below national |
| 331 | El Paso, TX | $26,970 | 25% below national |
| 332 | Tyler, TX | $26,950 | 25% below national |
| 333 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $26,890 | 25% below national |
| 334 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $26,470 | 26% below national |
| 335 | Baton Rouge, LA | $26,300 | 27% below national |
| 336 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $26,280 | 27% below national |
| 337 | Laredo, TX | $26,130 | 27% below national |
| 338 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $26,080 | 27% below national |
| 339 | Hattiesburg, MS | $24,580 | 31% below national |
| 340 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $24,170 | 32% below national |
| 341 | Lake Charles, LA | $23,840 | 33% below national |
| 342 | Albany, GA | $23,760 | 34% below national |
| 343 | Lafayette, LA | $23,700 | 34% below national |
| 344 | Alexandria, LA | $23,580 | 34% below national |
| 345 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $23,550 | 34% below national |
| 346 | Monroe, LA | $23,260 | 35% below national |
| 347 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,480 | 37% below national |
| 348 | Mayaguez, PR | $22,220 | 38% below national |
| 349 | Arecibo, PR | $22,030 | 38% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 39 (Personal Care and Service Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
SOC 39-3091
Animal Caretakers
SOC 39-2021
Animal Trainers
SOC 39-2011
Baggage Porters and Bellhops
SOC 39-6011
Barbers
SOC 39-5011
Showing 5 of 31 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Personal Care and Service Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($35,790 here) and reported employment (305,710 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists make? ▼
Where does Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists the most? ▼
What education do Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists? ▼
Is Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists a good career? ▼
How does Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $48,830/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $59,510/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.