Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in South Carolina
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in South Carolina earned a median of $33,700 a year ($16.20 an hour) and a mean of $42,580 in May 2025. The median is 5.8% below the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 35th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $33,700
- Median hourly
- $16.20
- Mean annual
- $42,580
- Jobs on record
- 3,570
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 South Carolina compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
South Carolina ranks 35th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $25,810 more than the South Carolina median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 33 | $34,040 | -5% | 13,190 |
| Nevada | 34 | $33,840 | -5% | 1,940 |
| South Carolina | 35 | $33,700 | -6% | 3,570 |
| Indiana | 36 | $32,830 | -8% | 5,920 |
| Alaska | 37 | $32,150 | -10% | 330 |
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 South Carolina pay go further after prices?
Prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the $33,700 median buys about what $35,947 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure South Carolina ranks 23rd of 50, up from 35th 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 South Carolina pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Charleston-North Charleston, SC is highest at $34,860, 3.4% above the South Carolina median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $34,860 | 800 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $34,730 | 260 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $33,850 | 680 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $33,640 | 280 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $31,000 | 280 |
| Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $30,840 | 100 |
| Florence, SC | $30,810 | 50 |
| Columbia, SC | $30,710 | 580 |
| Sumter, SC | $28,780 | 60 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in South 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 South Carolina?
BLS counts 3,570 jobs in South Carolina, 1.2% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 23rd largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in South Carolina, a location quotient of 0.79: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.79 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 South Carolina minimum wage compare with pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in South Carolina was $10.26 in May 2025, $3.01 above the $7.25 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. No state minimum wage law; the federal $7.25 applies to covered employers.
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 South Carolina
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.