Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary
- 10th pct
- $27,040
- Middle 50%
- $30,120–$48,830
- 90th pct
- $71,190
The BLS estimates 305,710 Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists jobs in the U.S. with a median base pay of $35,790 ($17.21 an hour) (May 2025, SOC 39-5012). Across 216 metros with published figures, medians range from $22,480 in San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR to $61,440 in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE305,710 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall U.S. employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · United States
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Where Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn the most
216 metros · BLS
Highest-paying metros
| Metro | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $61,440 | 570 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $59,810 | 4,510 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $59,610 | 1,500 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $58,740 | 220 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $58,150 | 200 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $50,500 | 320 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $49,840 | 290 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $49,640 | 250 |
| Boulder, CO | $48,120 | 490 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $48,060 | 530 |
Largest metros
| Metro | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $36,120 | 27,660 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $34,260 | 12,000 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,500 | 10,910 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37,320 | 9,960 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $37,430 | 7,870 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,020 | 7,010 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $33,960 | 6,630 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $36,810 | 6,440 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $34,640 | 5,760 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $31,080 | 5,480 |
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RELATED JOBS
All metros (A–Z)
BLS
Akron, OH · Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ · Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA · Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD · Birmingham, AL · Boise City, ID · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT · Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN · Cleveland, OH · Columbus, OH · Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO · Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI · Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI · Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT · Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN · Jacksonville, FL · Kansas City, MO-KS · Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · Memphis, TN-MS-AR · Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI · Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL · Omaha, NE-IA · Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD · Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ · Pittsburgh, PA · Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA · Providence-Warwick, RI-MA · Raleigh-Cary, NC · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA · Salt Lake City-Murray, UT · San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · St. Louis, MO-IL · Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Questions
What is the median Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary in the U.S.?
$35,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half earn $30,120–$48,830.
How much do Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists make an hour?
The BLS U.S. median is $17.21 an hour (May 2025). The middle half earn $14.48–$23.48 an hour, and the 90th percentile is $34.23. These are straight-time wages, before overtime and shift differentials.
Where do Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn the most?
Highest metro medians: Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($61,440), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($59,810), Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($59,610). Cost of living differs, so compare offers locally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025 (metro, state and national estimates). Employer filing counts: U.S. DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data FY2026 Q3, visa-sponsored positions only.