Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in New Jersey
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in New Jersey earned a median of $36,150 a year ($17.38 an hour) and a mean of $52,200 in May 2025. The median is 1.0% above the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 20th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $36,150
- Median hourly
- $17.38
- Mean annual
- $52,200
- Jobs on record
- 15,500
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 New Jersey compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
New Jersey ranks 20th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $23,360 more than the New Jersey median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 18 | $36,260 | +1% | 12,890 |
| Wisconsin | 19 | $36,230 | +1% | 6,260 |
| New Jersey | 20 | $36,150 | +1% | 15,500 |
| New York | 21 | $35,760 | -0% | 20,740 |
| Iowa | 22 | $35,700 | -0% | 2,930 |
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 New Jersey pay go further after prices?
Prices in New Jersey run 8.8% above the U.S. average, so the $36,150 median buys about what $33,225 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure New Jersey ranks 37th of 50, down from 20th 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 New Jersey pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ is highest at $42,350, 17.2% above the New Jersey median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $42,350 | 630 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $39,990 | 690 |
| Vineland, NJ | $37,680 | 220 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
BLS counts 15,500 jobs in New Jersey, 5.1% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 6th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in New Jersey, a location quotient of 1.84: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.84 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 New Jersey minimum wage compare with pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in New Jersey was $15.49 in May 2025, $0.43 below the $15.92 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 New Jersey
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.