Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Illinois
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Illinois earned a median of $34,040 a year ($16.37 an hour) and a mean of $39,720 in May 2025. The median is 4.9% below the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 33rd of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $34,040
- Median hourly
- $16.37
- Mean annual
- $39,720
- Jobs on record
- 13,190
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 Illinois compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Illinois ranks 33rd of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $25,470 more than the Illinois median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 31 | $34,350 | -4% | 1,270 |
| Nebraska | 32 | $34,320 | -4% | 1,890 |
| Illinois | 33 | $34,040 | -5% | 13,190 |
| Nevada | 34 | $33,840 | -5% | 1,940 |
| South Carolina | 35 | $33,700 | -6% | 3,570 |
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 Illinois pay go further after prices?
Prices in Illinois are about at the U.S. average, so the $34,040 median buys about what $34,054 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure Illinois ranks 32nd of 50, up from 33rd 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 Illinois pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is highest at $34,260, 0.6% above the Illinois median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $34,260 | 12,000 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $33,840 | 180 |
| Decatur, IL | $32,620 | 70 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,280 | 340 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,400 | 150 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 40 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 90 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,200 | 280 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 200 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Illinois 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 Illinois?
BLS counts 13,190 jobs in Illinois, 4.3% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 7th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in Illinois, a location quotient of 1.10: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.10 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 Illinois minimum wage compare with pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Illinois was $15.00 in May 2025, the same as the 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 Illinois
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.