Average Salary for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
SOC 39-5012 · Personal Care and Service Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in the United States is $35,250 ($16.95/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $24,580 at the 10th percentile to $70,220 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 295,460 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 52.5% since 2014.
Median Annual
$35,250
Mean Annual
$43,460
10th Pct
$24,580
75th Pct
$48,300
Employment
295,460
Salary Distribution
$25k
10th
$29k
25th
$35k
Median
$48k
75th
$70k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $60,770 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $60,140 |
| Bellingham, WA | $60,130 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $58,800 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $57,080 |
| Reno, NV | $54,610 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $52,000 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $50,670 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $49,860 |
| Boulder, CO | $48,890 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $48,730 |
| Rapid City, SD | $48,590 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $48,460 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $48,140 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $47,800 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Washington | $58,920 |
| Hawaii | $52,000 |
| Vermont | $49,640 |
| South Dakota | $49,050 |
| Maine | $48,480 |
| District of Columbia | $48,060 |
| Massachusetts | $47,740 |
| Alaska | $44,700 |
| New Jersey | $44,110 |
| Colorado | $43,680 |
| Minnesota | $42,850 |
| New Hampshire | $42,000 |
| California | $39,370 |
| Nebraska | $39,190 |
| Montana | $38,230 |
| Virginia | $37,850 |
| Iowa | $37,850 |
| Connecticut | $37,070 |
| Wisconsin | $36,550 |
| Maryland | $36,440 |
| North Carolina | $36,140 |
| Oregon | $35,760 |
| Michigan | $35,720 |
| Arizona | $35,220 |
| Utah | $34,960 |
| Illinois | $34,800 |
| Kansas | $34,740 |
| New York | $33,960 |
| North Dakota | $33,870 |
| Idaho | $33,820 |
| Wyoming | $32,400 |
| Kentucky | $32,170 |
| Indiana | $31,480 |
| West Virginia | $31,150 |
| Delaware | $30,980 |
| Georgia | $30,790 |
| Guam | $30,730 |
| Oklahoma | $30,680 |
| Rhode Island | $30,510 |
| Missouri | $30,390 |
| Florida | $29,760 |
| Nevada | $29,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,680 |
| Alabama | $29,660 |
| Ohio | $29,440 |
| Tennessee | $29,170 |
| South Carolina | $29,120 |
| Texas | $28,370 |
| Mississippi | $28,360 |
| New Mexico | $28,150 |
| Arkansas | $26,450 |
| Louisiana | $23,470 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,410 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $132,580 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $116,610 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $105,010 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $105,010 |
| Information | $101,490 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $101,130 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | $93,950 |
| Broadcasting and Content Providers | $86,010 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $65,000 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $65,000 |
| Manufacturing | $65,000 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $62,090 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $62,090 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $62,090 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $59,350 |
| Temporary Help Services | $52,000 |
| Hospitals | $50,380 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $49,820 |
| Death Care Services | $49,600 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $48,740 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $48,670 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $48,670 |
| Other Personal Services | $46,960 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $41,450 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $41,450 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $41,320 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $41,260 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $41,260 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | $40,600 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $40,030 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $39,930 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $39,720 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $39,710 |
| Educational Services | $39,710 |
| Educational Services | $39,480 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $39,000 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | $38,060 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $37,760 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $37,680 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $37,510 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $37,400 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $37,060 |
| Social Assistance | $35,710 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers | $35,620 |
| Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers | $35,620 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $35,610 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $35,580 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $35,570 |
| Personal Care Services | $35,560 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $35,250 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $35,220 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $35,220 |
| Accommodation | $35,220 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $32,660 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $32,660 |
| Employment Services | $32,660 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $32,050 |
| Casino Hotels | $31,750 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $30,120 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $30,120 |
| Retail Trade | $29,430 |
| General Merchandise Retailers | $29,120 |
| Offices of Physicians | $28,880 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $35,250 |
| 2023 | $34,970 |
| 2022 | $33,290 |
| 2021 | $29,670 |
| 2020 | $27,380 |
| 2019 | $26,090 |
| 2018 | $24,730 |
| 2017 | $24,850 |
| 2016 | $24,260 |
| 2015 | $23,660 |
| 2014 | $23,120 |