Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary: $35,250 Median Pay (2026 stats)
Executive Summary
About 295,460 hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists work nationally, and $35,250 is the BLS national median annual wage. Employment in the series shown rose about 5% from the first to the last year; projections imply about 0.5% annual decline.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists: what the data shows
Common questions about hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 39-5012.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 295,460 workers.
What does a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Performing for or Working Directly with the Public, Selling or Influencing Others, Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships, Assisting and Caring for Others, Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge, Thinking Creatively, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make?
BLS national median annual wage: $35,250 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $50,948 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
Wage percentiles below are from the California OEWS extract (not national unless noted).
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,676 |
| 25th percentile | $36,550 |
| Median (50th) | $40,489 |
| 75th percentile | $48,491 |
| 90th percentile | $77,235 |
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Active Listening, Speaking, Service Orientation, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Judgment and Decision Making, and knowledge areas including Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing, Administration and Management, Education and Training. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 0.5% annual decline (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: -2.6%.
Ten-year projected employment change: -5.1%.
Current U.S. headcount: 295,460.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologistss work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-industry | 295,460 | 20.0% |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | 295,200 | 20.0% |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 261,290 | 17.7% |
| Personal and Laundry Services | 261,210 | 17.7% |
| Personal Care Services | 260,460 | 17.6% |
| General Merchandise Retailers | 33,620 | 2.3% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
What careers are related?
Other occupations linked through shared degree pathways in our mapping:
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | 26,830 | $33,880 |
| Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | 16,570 | $53,990 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | 270,480 | $102,140 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 472,300 | $78,140 |
| Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | 4,590 | $34,530 |
| Personal Care Aides | — | — |
| Barbers | 18,100 | $38,960 |
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists workforce.
Employment Over Time
295,460 U.S. workforce (OEWS)
California employment for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists shrank from 92,540 in 2009 to 85,080 in 2025 (8.1%).
Historical employment for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists from the California OEWS series, 2009–2025. The U.S. workforce figure is national and is not the endpoint of this line.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$35,250 Median pay (BLS national)
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn $35,250 as the BLS national median annual wage.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Salary distribution for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Employment Growth Projections
-0.5% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
82,874 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: -2.6%
80,726 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: -5.1%
This occupation is experiencing a decline. Consider related fields with better growth prospects.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Wage Trends by Industry
7.8% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
State employment and wages are from the U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 state extract. Metropolitan areas use the national MSA file when available.
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- FL: 23,220 employees, $37,890 avg wage
- TX: 22,470 employees, $36,980 avg wage
- CA: 21,510 employees, $49,540 avg wage
- NY: 20,300 employees, $46,160 avg wage
- PA: 18,630 employees, $38,050 avg wage
- NJ: 15,140 employees, $56,930 avg wage
- IL: 13,770 employees, $42,050 avg wage
- OH: 12,730 employees, $37,640 avg wage
- VA: 9,480 employees, $49,690 avg wage
- MA: 9,210 employees, $51,600 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: 26,620 employees, $51,650 avg wage
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: 12,720 employees, $42,070 avg wage
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: 9,860 employees, $40,860 avg wage
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: 7,420 employees, $51,950 avg wage
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 7,360 employees, $57,700 avg wage
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: 6,730 employees, $36,320 avg wage
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: 6,720 employees, $52,420 avg wage
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ: 6,330 employees, $40,210 avg wage
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: 5,470 employees, $39,610 avg wage
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA: 5,160 employees, $46,310 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Diversity
Demographic information on Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in the US.
Gender and Age
The U.S. workforce for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists is about 295,460 people in our OEWS extract.
Gender and age distribution for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in 2023 were Business Administration, Business, Social Sciences.
Common majors for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists workers.
Education level distribution for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Skills
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists need many skills, but most especially Active Listening, Speaking, Service Orientation, Critical Thinking, Active Learning.
Required skills for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists include Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing, Administration and Management, Education and Training, English Language.
Knowledge areas required for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists include Near Vision, Manual Dexterity, Arm-Hand Steadiness, Finger Dexterity, Oral Expression.
Required abilities for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Daily Activities
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists spend their time on activities such as Performing for or Working Directly with the Public, Selling or Influencing Others, Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships, Assisting and Caring for Others, Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge.
Most important work activities for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
About
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn $35,250 as the BLS national median annual wage.
SOC Code
39-5012 - Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Insights and Analysis
Compensation snapshot: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists reports an average salary of $50,948.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 295,460 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual decline is -0.5%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.