Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Washington, DC
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $37,020 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,870 take-home, or $2,573 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,262
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,295
- Medicare (1.45%)$537
- District of Columbia income tax$1,055
- Take-home pay$30,870
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,900 | $12.93 | $23,314 | $1,943 |
| 25th percentile | $29,050 | $13.97 | $24,945 | $2,079 |
| Median (50th) | $37,020 | $17.80 | $30,870 | $2,573 |
| 75th percentile | $55,680 | $26.77 | $44,744 | $3,729 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,900 | $37.93 | $60,598 | $5,050 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,020 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% 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 $30,870 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,352 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 Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $37,020 | $30,870 | $28,352 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $37,020 a year, or about $17.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,050 and $55,680.
What is a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $37,020 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $30,870 a year ($2,573 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,055 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $35,790. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,352 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #20 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 77% 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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