Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in New Mexico
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in New Mexico earned a median of $37,750 a year ($18.15 an hour) and a mean of $39,550 in May 2025. The median is 5.5% above the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 12th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $37,750
- Median hourly
- $18.15
- Mean annual
- $39,550
- Jobs on record
- 1,230
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 Mexico compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
New Mexico ranks 12th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $21,760 more than the New Mexico median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 10 | $38,410 | +7% | 8,490 |
| 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 |
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 Mexico pay go further after prices?
Prices in New Mexico run 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the $37,750 median buys about what $40,938 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure New Mexico ranks 8th of 50, up from 12th 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 Mexico pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area is highest at $38,790, 2.8% above the New Mexico median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $38,790 | 90 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $38,330 | 850 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $30,990 | 100 |
| Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $27,660 | 30 |
| Farmington, NM | $27,360 | 50 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in New Mexico 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 Mexico?
BLS counts 1,230 jobs in New Mexico, 0.40% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 39th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in New Mexico, a location quotient of 0.72: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.72 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 New Mexico minimum wage compare with pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in New Mexico was $13.07 in May 2025, $1.07 above the $12.00 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 New Mexico
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.