Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Rhode Island
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Rhode Island earned a median of $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour) and a mean of $35,620 in May 2025. The median is 12.8% below the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 39th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $31,200
- Median hourly
- $15.00
- Mean annual
- $35,620
- Jobs on record
- 1,470
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 Rhode Island compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Rhode Island ranks 39th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $28,310 more than the Rhode Island median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 37 | $32,150 | -10% | 330 |
| Tennessee | 38 | $31,310 | -13% | 6,080 |
| Rhode Island | 39 | $31,200 | -13% | 1,470 |
| Missouri | 40 | $30,750 | -14% | 5,430 |
| Texas | 41 | $30,680 | -14% | 22,440 |
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 Rhode Island pay go further after prices?
Prices in Rhode Island run 2.3% above the U.S. average, so the $31,200 median buys about what $30,504 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure Rhode Island ranks 48th of 50, down from 39th 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 Rhode Island pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA is highest at $31,200, about the same as the Rhode Island median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $31,200 | 2,120 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
BLS counts 1,470 jobs in Rhode Island, 0.48% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 36th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in Rhode Island, a location quotient of 1.49: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.49 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 Rhode Island minimum wage compare with pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Rhode Island was $15.00 in May 2025, $1.00 below the $16.00 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 Rhode Island
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.