Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Denver, CO
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $36,530 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,633 take-home, or $2,553 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,204
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,265
- Medicare (1.45%)$530
- Colorado income tax$899
- Take-home pay$30,633
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,300 | $16.49 | $28,939 | $2,412 |
| 25th percentile | $35,380 | $17.01 | $29,760 | $2,480 |
| Median (50th) | $36,530 | $17.56 | $30,633 | $2,553 |
| 75th percentile | $57,510 | $27.65 | $46,567 | $3,881 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,340 | $48.24 | $75,713 | $6,309 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,530 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists's $30,633 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,959 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.3× 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
Denver, CO ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $36,530 | $30,633 | $28,959 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $36,530 a year, or about $17.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,380 and $57,510.
What is a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $36,530 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $30,633 a year ($2,553 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $899 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,790. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,959 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #15 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 69% 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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