Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Boston, MA
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $37,430 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,604 take-home, or $2,550 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,312
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,321
- Medicare (1.45%)$543
- Massachusetts income tax$1,652
- Take-home pay$30,604
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,600 | $15.19 | $26,211 | $2,184 |
| 25th percentile | $34,970 | $16.81 | $28,750 | $2,396 |
| Median (50th) | $37,430 | $18.00 | $30,604 | $2,550 |
| 75th percentile | $59,960 | $28.83 | $47,580 | $3,965 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,850 | $37.91 | $60,578 | $5,048 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,430 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists's $30,604 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,267 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.5× the national concentration of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #21 of 28 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $59,810 | $50,237 | $45,205 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $46,310 | $37,731 | $35,995 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $38,100 | $31,624 | $33,404 |
| 4 | Cincinnati, OH | $36,790 | $31,511 | $33,041 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $38,530 | $32,110 | $32,985 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $35,640 | $30,619 | $32,600 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $36,260 | $31,100 | $32,576 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,500 | $35,837 | $31,556 |
| 21 | Boston, MA | $37,430 | $30,604 | $28,267 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
About the job: hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
Provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. May shampoo hair, apply makeup, dress wigs, remove hair, and provide nail and skincare services.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.7% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make in Boston, MA?
The median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $37,430 a year, or about $18.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,970 and $59,960.
What is a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $37,430 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $30,604 a year ($2,550 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,652 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $35,790. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,267 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #21 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 89% of a median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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