Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in North Carolina
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in North Carolina earned a median of $38,410 a year ($18.47 an hour) and a mean of $43,670 in May 2025. The median is 7.3% above the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 10th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $38,410
- Median hourly
- $18.47
- Mean annual
- $43,670
- Jobs on record
- 8,490
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 North Carolina compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
North Carolina ranks 10th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $21,100 more than the North Carolina median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 8 | $39,170 | +9% | 5,320 |
| California | 9 | $38,660 | +8% | 27,080 |
| North Carolina | 10 | $38,410 | +7% | 8,490 |
| Montana | 11 | $38,000 | +6% | 690 |
| New Mexico | 12 | $37,750 | +5% | 1,230 |
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 North Carolina pay go further after prices?
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the U.S. average, so the $38,410 median buys about what $40,720 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure North Carolina ranks 9th of 50, up from 10th 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 North Carolina pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is highest at $48,060, 25.1% above the North Carolina median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $48,060 | 530 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $43,700 | 1,810 |
| Asheville, NC | $40,620 | 330 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $39,990 | 90 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $38,980 | 550 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,530 | 2,940 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $38,290 | 160 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $37,620 | 470 |
| Wilmington, NC | $37,230 | 500 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $35,550 | 260 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $35,100 | 160 |
| Greenville, NC | $34,980 | 80 |
| Burlington, NC | $34,700 | 90 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $33,980 | 130 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $32,100 | 300 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $30,740 | 50 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $27,330 | 60 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
BLS counts 8,490 jobs in North Carolina, 2.8% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 11th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in North Carolina, a location quotient of 0.87: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.87 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.
Related jobs in North Carolina
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.