Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary
Food & hospitality · OCC code 39-5012 · gross annual wage · BLS OEWS May 2024
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in the US earn a median of $35,250 per year (mean $43,460) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey — that is -28.8% versus the $49,500 median for all US jobs, below the US median wage for all jobs. The middle half earn between $29,060 and $48,300; the top 10% earn $70,220 or more. The median hourly wage is $16.95. About 295,460 are employed nationally. The highest-paying state is Washington ($58,920). Wages are gross (pre-tax) and vary by employer, experience and location.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay range (national percentiles)
What hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn across the pay distribution, nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2024):
| Pay level | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (lowest-paid 10%) | $24,580 |
| 25th percentile | $29,060 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $35,250 |
| Mean (average) | $43,460 |
| 75th percentile | $48,300 |
| 90th percentile (highest-paid 10%) | $70,220 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
A dash (—) means BLS did not release that figure; a plus (+) means the wage is at or above the BLS top code of $239,200/yr. See what wage percentiles mean or check where your salary ranks.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary by state
Median and mean wage for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in each of the 51 states with published data, highest median first. The national median is $35,250.
| # | State | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $58,920 | $66,380 | 7,410 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $52,000 | $50,460 | 1,000 |
| 3 | Vermont | $49,640 | $55,290 | 520 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $49,050 | $48,310 | 530 |
| 5 | Maine | $48,480 | $54,180 | 820 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $48,060 | $62,110 | 1,010 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $47,740 | $51,600 | 9,210 |
| 8 | Alaska | $44,700 | $45,020 | 240 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $44,110 | $56,930 | 15,140 |
| 10 | Colorado | $43,680 | $51,740 | 6,520 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $42,850 | $45,090 | 5,230 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $42,000 | $39,570 | 1,550 |
| 13 | California | $39,370 | $49,540 | 21,510 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $39,190 | $41,530 | 1,950 |
| 15 | Montana | $38,230 | $43,630 | 600 |
| 16 | Iowa | $37,850 | $44,850 | 2,870 |
| 17 | Virginia | $37,850 | $49,690 | 9,480 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $37,070 | $45,610 | 3,920 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $36,550 | $38,220 | 6,460 |
| 20 | Maryland | $36,440 | $44,270 | 5,900 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $36,140 | $42,010 | 8,720 |
| 22 | Oregon | $35,760 | $48,860 | 1,900 |
| 23 | Michigan | $35,720 | $42,860 | 9,010 |
| 24 | Arizona | $35,220 | $40,140 | 7,760 |
| 25 | Utah | $34,960 | $42,000 | 3,620 |
| 26 | Illinois | $34,800 | $42,050 | 13,770 |
| 27 | Kansas | $34,740 | $39,550 | 2,340 |
| 28 | New York | $33,960 | $46,160 | 20,300 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $33,870 | $43,190 | 930 |
| 30 | Idaho | $33,820 | $31,320 | 1,860 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $32,400 | $39,600 | 320 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $32,170 | $48,910 | 2,030 |
| 33 | Indiana | $31,480 | $35,440 | 6,240 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $31,150 | $38,680 | 1,040 |
| 35 | Delaware | $30,980 | $43,980 | 1,340 |
| 36 | Georgia | $30,790 | $44,910 | 6,850 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $30,680 | $36,470 | 1,830 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $30,510 | $38,760 | 1,440 |
| 39 | Missouri | $30,390 | $41,360 | 5,470 |
| 40 | Florida | $29,760 | $37,890 | 23,220 |
| 41 | Nevada | $29,690 | $37,600 | 1,830 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania | $29,680 | $38,050 | 18,630 |
| 43 | Alabama | $29,660 | $32,020 | 3,170 |
| 44 | Ohio | $29,440 | $37,640 | 12,730 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $29,170 | $38,830 | 5,240 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $29,120 | $35,960 | 3,290 |
| 47 | Texas | $28,370 | $36,980 | 22,470 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $28,360 | $36,720 | 910 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $28,150 | $37,050 | 1,380 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $26,450 | $30,480 | 1,610 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $23,470 | $28,530 | 2,390 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Highest median: Washington ($58,920). Lowest: Louisiana ($23,470).
Similar-paying jobs
| Occupation | Median wage | Mean wage | vs US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (this job) | $35,250 | $43,460 | -28.8% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,900 | $34,990 | -29.5% |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,690 | $37,850 | -27.9% |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,580 | $37,150 | -30.1% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $35,930 | $37,460 | -27.4% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $33,760 | $38,360 | -31.8% |
Home Health and Personal Care Aides · Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse · Retail Salespersons · Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners · Waiters and Waitresses
Frequently asked questions
How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make?
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn a national median of $35,250 per year (mean $43,460) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey. The middle half earn between $29,060 (25th percentile) and $48,300 (75th percentile); the top 10% earn $70,220 or more and the bottom 10% earn under $24,580. These are gross, pre-tax wages.
What is the hourly wage for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The median hourly wage is $16.95 and the mean is $20.89 (BLS OEWS, May 2024). BLS reports some occupations only as annual wages, in which case hourly figures are shown as a dash.
Which state pays hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists at $58,920, versus a national median of $35,250. State pay reflects local cost of living, demand and industry mix. See the full state table on this page.
How many hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists are there in the US?
BLS estimates about 295,460 hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists are employed in the US (OEWS, May 2024). Among the 124 occupations tracked here, this job ranks #119 of 124 by median pay.
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Sources & accuracy
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 (OCC 39-5012), gross annual wages, U.S. public domain, retrieved June 2026. OEWS figures are survey estimates and reflect pay before tax. Your actual pay depends on employer, experience, certifications, industry and location. This is information, not financial or career advice — see our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-20