Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Missouri
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Missouri earned a median of $30,750 a year ($14.78 an hour) and a mean of $40,240 in May 2025. The median is 14.1% below the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 40th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $30,750
- Median hourly
- $14.78
- Mean annual
- $40,240
- Jobs on record
- 5,430
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 Missouri compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Missouri ranks 40th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $28,760 more than the Missouri median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 38 | $31,310 | -13% | 6,080 |
| Rhode Island | 39 | $31,200 | -13% | 1,470 |
| Missouri | 40 | $30,750 | -14% | 5,430 |
| Texas | 41 | $30,680 | -14% | 22,440 |
| Kentucky | 42 | $29,840 | -17% | 2,350 |
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 Missouri pay go further after prices?
Prices in Missouri run 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the $30,750 median buys about what $33,859 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure Missouri ranks 33rd of 50, up from 40th 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 Missouri pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Columbia, MO is highest at $35,900, 16.7% above the Missouri median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MO | $35,900 | 270 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $33,350 | 2,830 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $31,520 | 2,220 |
| Springfield, MO | $29,500 | 500 |
| Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $29,490 | 100 |
| North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,930 | 80 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,800 | 100 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $28,730 | 40 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $28,630 | 110 |
| Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 220 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 130 |
| Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 110 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Missouri 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 Missouri?
BLS counts 5,430 jobs in Missouri, 1.8% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 20th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in Missouri, a location quotient of 0.94: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.94 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Missouri minimum wage compare with pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Missouri was $13.75 in May 2025, $1.25 below the $15.00 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 Missouri
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.