Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Pennsylvania
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Pennsylvania earned a median of $36,790 a year ($17.69 an hour) and a mean of $43,000 in May 2025. The median is 2.8% above the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 16th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $36,790
- Median hourly
- $17.69
- Mean annual
- $43,000
- Jobs on record
- 19,350
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 Pennsylvania compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Pennsylvania ranks 16th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $22,720 more than the Pennsylvania median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 14 | $37,290 | +4% | 9,600 |
| Arizona | 15 | $36,810 | +3% | 7,840 |
| Pennsylvania | 16 | $36,790 | +3% | 19,350 |
| Maryland | 17 | $36,420 | +2% | 5,860 |
| Ohio | 18 | $36,260 | +1% | 12,890 |
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 Pennsylvania pay go further after prices?
Prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the $36,790 median buys about what $37,705 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure Pennsylvania ranks 18th of 50, down from 16th 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 Pennsylvania pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Pittsburgh, PA is highest at $38,100, 3.6% above the Pennsylvania median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $38,100 | 4,190 |
| Lebanon, PA | $37,920 | 200 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $37,690 | 1,350 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37,320 | 9,960 |
| State College, PA | $36,540 | 240 |
| Reading, PA | $36,350 | 620 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $36,100 | 70 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $36,050 | 510 |
| Erie, PA | $35,540 | 410 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $35,540 | 670 |
| Lancaster, PA | $35,510 | 840 |
| Johnstown, PA | $34,720 | 170 |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $34,400 | 450 |
| Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $34,070 | 460 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $33,020 | 350 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $32,240 | 530 |
| Williamsport, PA | $30,580 | 130 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $30,550 | 840 |
| Altoona, PA | $30,090 | 270 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
BLS counts 19,350 jobs in Pennsylvania, 6.3% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 5th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in Pennsylvania, a location quotient of 1.62: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.62 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.
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.