Average Hairdressers, Hairstylists, And Cosmetologists Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, And Cosmetologists is $35,250 per year. The middle 50% earn between $29,060 and $48,300, with 295,460 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates . Data covers 51 states and 357 metro areas.
Wage range
Pay distribution
Here is how Hairdressers, Hairstylists, And Cosmetologists pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $24,580
- 25th
- $29,060
- Median
- $35,250
- 75th
- $48,300
- 90th
- $70,220
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
This is a lower-wage occupation relative to the US labor market. Pay is below the national median for all workers.
Pay varies significantly across workers. Seniority, employer size, and specialization all move the needle, so it is normal for two hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists at different points in their careers to earn very different salaries.
BLS projections
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists from 2024 to 2034. Growth is above the US average of about 4% across all occupations. This is an expanding field.
- Projected growth
- +5.6%
- 32,200 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 75,800
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings are high relative to the workforce size, reflecting meaningful turnover and new-hire volume.
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Postsecondary training beyond high school is typically required, but a full four-year degree is not always necessary.
Where Hairdressers, Hairstylists, And Cosmetologists earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is Washington at $58,920, about 67.1% above the national median. At the metro level, Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA leads with a median of $60,770.
By state
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $58,920 | 7,410 |
| Hawaii | $52,000 | 1,000 |
| Vermont | $49,640 | 520 |
| South Dakota | $49,050 | 530 |
| Maine | $48,480 | 820 |
| District of Columbia | $48,060 | 1,010 |
| Massachusetts | $47,740 | 9,210 |
| Alaska | $44,700 | 240 |
By metro
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $60,770 | 230 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $60,140 | 4,910 |
| Bellingham, WA | $60,130 | 170 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $58,800 | 530 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $57,080 | 90 |
| Reno, NV | $54,610 | 320 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $52,000 | 760 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $50,670 | 310 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2024, the national median salary for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, And Cosmetologists rose from $26,090 to $35,250, a gain of +35.1% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +22.7%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $26,090 would need to be worth $32,012 in 2024 dollars.
The actual 2024 median of $35,250 is $3,238 above that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of +10.1% in purchasing power.
Real wages have grown strongly, 10.1% above inflation. Workers in this field have meaningfully gained purchasing power.
- Nominal change
- +35.1%
- 2019–2024
- Cumulative inflation
- +22.7%
- US CPI, 2019–2024
- Real change
- +10.1%
- After adjusting for inflation
Annual history
Median salary over time
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, And Cosmetologists median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2019
- $26,090
- 2020
- $27,380
- 2021
- $29,670
- 2022
- $33,290
- 2023
- $34,970
- 2024
- $35,250
Similar jobs
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Manicurists And Pedicurists
- $34,660
- Barbers
- $38,960
- Shampooers
- $31,470
- Skincare Specialists
- $41,560
- Recreation Workers
- $35,380
- Funeral Attendants
- $34,610
Common salary questions for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, And Cosmetologists
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Hairdressers, Hairstylists, And Cosmetologists workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.