Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Tennessee
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Tennessee earned a median of $31,310 a year ($15.05 an hour) and a mean of $38,100 in May 2025. The median is 12.5% below the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 38th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $31,310
- Median hourly
- $15.05
- Mean annual
- $38,100
- Jobs on record
- 6,080
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 Tennessee compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Tennessee ranks 38th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $28,200 more than the Tennessee median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 36 | $32,830 | -8% | 5,920 |
| 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 |
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 Tennessee pay go further after prices?
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the U.S. average, so the $31,310 median buys about what $34,081 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure Tennessee ranks 31st of 50, up from 38th 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 Tennessee pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN is highest at $34,430, 10.0% above the Tennessee median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $34,430 | 2,770 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $30,980 | 1,000 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $30,790 | 120 |
| Knoxville, TN | $30,650 | 910 |
| Cleveland, TN | $30,390 | 40 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $30,380 | 410 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $29,900 | 160 |
| Morristown, TN | $29,210 | 50 |
| Johnson City, TN | $28,980 | 180 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,820 | 120 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $28,580 | 130 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
BLS counts 6,080 jobs in Tennessee, 2.0% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 17th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in Tennessee, a location quotient of 0.94: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.94 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 Tennessee
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.