Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Seattle, WA
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $59,810 a year — 67% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,237 take-home, or $4,186 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,997
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,708
- Medicare (1.45%)$867
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$50,237
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,910 | $18.71 | $33,444 | $2,787 |
| 25th percentile | $46,370 | $22.29 | $39,438 | $3,287 |
| Median (50th) | $59,810 | $28.75 | $50,237 | $4,186 |
| 75th percentile | $74,260 | $35.70 | $61,072 | $5,089 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,340 | $48.72 | $80,123 | $6,677 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,810 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists's $50,237 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,205 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists jobs are about as common in Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #1 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 |
*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 Seattle, WA?
The median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $59,810 a year, or about $28.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,370 and $74,260.
What is a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $59,810 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $50,237 a year ($4,186 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Pay here is 67% above the national median of $35,790. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,205 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Gambling Dealer — $60,490
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $56,380
- Manicurist and Pedicurist — $50,800
- Recreation Worker — $45,990
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers — $44,250
- Animal Caretaker — $44,060
- Childcare Worker — $43,710
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $39,330