Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Nebraska
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Nebraska earned a median of $34,320 a year ($16.50 an hour) and a mean of $43,850 in May 2025. The median is 4.1% below the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 32nd of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $34,320
- Median hourly
- $16.50
- Mean annual
- $43,850
- Jobs on record
- 1,890
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 Nebraska compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Nebraska ranks 32nd of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $25,190 more than the Nebraska median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 30 | $34,480 | -4% | 1,020 |
| 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 |
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 Nebraska pay go further after prices?
Prices in Nebraska run 9.9% below the U.S. average, so the $34,320 median buys about what $38,090 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure Nebraska ranks 17th of 50, up from 32nd 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 Nebraska pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Omaha, NE-IA is highest at $36,390, 6.0% above the Nebraska median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $36,390 | 1,220 |
| South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $35,360 | 180 |
| Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $31,480 | 120 |
| Grand Island, NE | $30,740 | 60 |
| Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $30,710 | 40 |
| Lincoln, NE | $30,440 | 340 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Nebraska 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 Nebraska?
BLS counts 1,890 jobs in Nebraska, 0.62% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 34th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in Nebraska, 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 Nebraska minimum wage compare with pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Nebraska was $13.50 in May 2025, $1.50 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 Nebraska
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.