Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Ohio
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Ohio earned a median of $36,260 a year ($17.43 an hour) and a mean of $44,680 in May 2025. The median is 1.3% above the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 18th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $36,260
- Median hourly
- $17.43
- Mean annual
- $44,680
- Jobs on record
- 12,890
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 Ohio compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Ohio ranks 18th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $23,250 more than the Ohio median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 16 | $36,790 | +3% | 19,350 |
| Maryland | 17 | $36,420 | +2% | 5,860 |
| Ohio | 18 | $36,260 | +1% | 12,890 |
| Wisconsin | 19 | $36,230 | +1% | 6,260 |
| New Jersey | 20 | $36,150 | +1% | 15,500 |
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 Ohio pay go further after prices?
Prices in Ohio run 7.2% below the U.S. average, so the $36,260 median buys about what $39,084 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure Ohio ranks 14th of 50, up from 18th 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 Ohio pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Akron, OH is highest at $38,100, 5.1% above the Ohio median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | $38,100 | 1,140 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,790 | 2,540 |
| Toledo, OH | $36,440 | 650 |
| Columbus, OH | $36,260 | 2,420 |
| Cleveland, OH | $35,640 | 3,070 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $35,010 | 410 |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $34,990 | 400 |
| North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $34,450 | 510 |
| Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $33,810 | 250 |
| Lima, OH | $33,530 | 100 |
| Springfield, OH | $33,280 | 80 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $30,590 | 790 |
| Mansfield, OH | $29,690 | 150 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $29,520 | 290 |
| Sandusky, OH | $29,030 | 100 |
| Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $28,380 | 230 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Ohio 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 Ohio?
BLS counts 12,890 jobs in Ohio, 4.2% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 8th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in Ohio, a location quotient of 1.18: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.18 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 Ohio minimum wage compare with pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Ohio was $11.31 in May 2025, $0.31 above the $11.00 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. $11.00 for employers with annual gross receipts of $405,000 or more; smaller employers $7.25.
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 Ohio
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.