Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in West Virginia
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in West Virginia earned a median of $34,480 a year ($16.58 an hour) and a mean of $40,320 in May 2025. The median is 3.7% below the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 30th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $34,480
- Median hourly
- $16.58
- Mean annual
- $40,320
- Jobs on record
- 1,020
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 West Virginia compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
West Virginia ranks 30th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $25,030 more than the West Virginia median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 28 | $34,650 | -3% | 1,950 |
| Georgia | 29 | $34,560 | -3% | 7,910 |
| West Virginia | 30 | $34,480 | -4% | 1,020 |
| Delaware | 31 | $34,350 | -4% | 1,270 |
| Nebraska | 32 | $34,320 | -4% | 1,890 |
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 West Virginia pay go further after prices?
Prices in West Virginia run 10.5% below the U.S. average, so the $34,480 median buys about what $38,526 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure West Virginia ranks 15th of 50, up from 30th 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 West Virginia pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Morgantown, WV is highest at $32,790, 4.9% below the West Virginia median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV | $32,790 | 150 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $32,390 | 150 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $31,720 | 200 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $30,490 | 80 |
| Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $30,350 | 150 |
| Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,910 | 60 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,580 | 140 |
| Beckley, WV | $28,610 | 70 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in West Virginia 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 West Virginia?
BLS counts 1,020 jobs in West Virginia, 0.33% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 41st largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in West Virginia, a location quotient of 0.74: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.74 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 West Virginia minimum wage compare with pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in West Virginia was $11.34 in May 2025, $2.59 above the $8.75 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 West Virginia
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.