Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Wisconsin
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Wisconsin earned a median of $36,230 a year ($17.42 an hour) and a mean of $39,190 in May 2025. The median is 1.2% above the U.S. median of $35,790, ranking 19th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $36,230
- Median hourly
- $17.42
- Mean annual
- $39,190
- Jobs on record
- 6,260
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 Wisconsin compare on pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Wisconsin ranks 19th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $59,510, $23,280 more than the Wisconsin median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 17 | $36,420 | +2% | 5,860 |
| Ohio | 18 | $36,260 | +1% | 12,890 |
| Wisconsin | 19 | $36,230 | +1% | 6,260 |
| New Jersey | 20 | $36,150 | +1% | 15,500 |
| New York | 21 | $35,760 | -0% | 20,740 |
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 Wisconsin pay go further after prices?
Prices in Wisconsin run 5.9% below the U.S. average, so the $36,230 median buys about what $38,504 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $35,790 U.S. median. On this measure Wisconsin ranks 16th of 50, up from 19th 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 Wisconsin pay hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is highest at $38,190, 5.4% above the Wisconsin median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $38,190 | 2,070 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $37,210 | 150 |
| Kenosha, WI | $36,520 | 250 |
| Madison, WI | $36,490 | 890 |
| Appleton, WI | $36,260 | 280 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $35,500 | 140 |
| Green Bay, WI | $35,490 | 300 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $35,270 | 200 |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $35,190 | 320 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $35,140 | 170 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $35,090 | 170 |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $34,560 | 150 |
| Wausau, WI | $34,050 | 120 |
| Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $33,160 | 70 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $31,810 | 110 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $29,850 | 210 |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $29,190 | 450 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
BLS counts 6,260 jobs in Wisconsin, 2.0% of the 305,710 in the U.S. That is the 16th largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in Wisconsin, a location quotient of 1.08: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.08 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 Wisconsin
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.