Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Colorado
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Colorado earned a median of $37,690 a year ($18.12 an hour) and a mean of $51,590 in May 2025. The median is 5.3% above the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 13th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $37,690
- Median hourly
- $18.12
- Mean annual
- $51,590
- Jobs on record
- 6,820
Grey needle: U.S. median, $35,790 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Colorado compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Colorado ranks 13th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $21,820 more than the Colorado median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 11 | $38,000 | +6% | 690 |
| New Mexico | 12 | $37,750 | +5% | 1,230 |
| Colorado | 13 | $37,690 | +5% | 6,820 |
| Massachusetts | 14 | $37,290 | +4% | 9,600 |
| Arizona | 15 | $36,810 | +3% | 7,840 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 52 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Colorado pay go further after prices?
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the $37,690 median buys about what $36,574 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure Colorado ranks 20th of 50, down from 13th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Colorado pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Boulder, CO is highest at $48,120, 27.7% above the Colorado median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $48,120 | 490 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $45,200 | 160 |
| Greeley, CO | $44,380 | 210 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $41,230 | 560 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $36,680 | 870 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $36,530 | 4,150 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $36,500 | 170 |
| Pueblo, CO | $33,280 | 50 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Colorado is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists work in Colorado?
BLS counts 6,820 jobs in Colorado, 2.2% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 15th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in Colorado, a location quotient of 1.21: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.21 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Colorado minimum wage compare with pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Colorado was $15.15 in May 2025, $0.01 below the $15.16 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in Colorado
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.