Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn a median $35,790 a year nationally. Personal Care and Service Occupations
U.S. median
$35,790
$17.21 per hour
Range
$27,040 – $71,190
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
305,710
across the U.S.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$30,937
per year · effective tax rate 13.6%
$2,578Monthly
$1,289Twice a month
$1,190Every 2 weeks
$14.87Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,115
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,219
- Medicare (1.45%)$519
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,937
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,040 | $13.00 | $23,877 |
| 25th percentile | $30,120 | $14.48 | $26,381 |
| Median (50th) | $35,790 | $17.21 | $30,937 |
| 75th percentile | $48,830 | $23.48 | $41,415 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,190 | $34.23 | $58,912 |
Best cities for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $61,440 | $51,547 | $51,369 | 570 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $59,810 | $50,237 | $45,205 | 4,510 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $59,610 | $45,690 | $43,341 | 1,500 |
| 4 | Durham, NC | $48,060 | $39,387 | $40,367 | 530 |
| 5 | Boulder, CO | $48,120 | $39,436 | $37,486 | 490 |
| 6 | Portland, ME | $46,460 | $37,556 | $36,871 | 600 |
| 7 | Raleigh, NC | $43,700 | $36,058 | $36,735 | 1,810 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $46,310 | $37,731 | $35,995 | 3,920 |
| 9 | Bridgeport, CT | $46,470 | $38,352 | $35,889 | 1,500 |
| 10 | Atlantic City, NJ | $42,350 | $35,416 | $35,826 | 630 |
| 11 | Winston, NC | $38,980 | $32,454 | $35,259 | 550 |
| 12 | Akron, OH | $38,100 | $32,528 | $34,838 | 1,140 |
| 13 | Hartford, CT | $42,650 | $35,455 | $34,507 | 1,180 |
| 14 | Toledo, OH | $36,440 | $31,240 | $34,159 | 650 |
| 15 | Greensboro, NC | $37,620 | $31,415 | $33,829 | 470 |
| 16 | Fort Collins, CO | $41,230 | $34,203 | $33,821 | 560 |
| 17 | Albuquerque, NM | $38,330 | $32,297 | $33,803 | 850 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $40,720 | $34,032 | $33,739 | 1,270 |
| 19 | Tucson, AZ | $38,590 | $32,431 | $33,470 | 890 |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | $38,100 | $31,624 | $33,404 | 4,190 |
| 21 | Grand Rapids, MI | $38,740 | $31,912 | $33,400 | 1,290 |
| 22 | Omaha, NE | $36,390 | $30,643 | $33,340 | 1,220 |
| 23 | Cincinnati, OH | $36,790 | $31,511 | $33,041 | 2,540 |
| 24 | Charlotte, NC | $38,530 | $32,110 | $32,985 | 2,940 |
| 25 | Milwaukee, WI | $38,190 | $31,966 | $32,976 | 2,070 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Spokane, WA — $61,440
- Seattle, WA — $59,810
- Portland, OR — $59,610
- Boulder, CO — $48,120
- Durham, NC — $48,060
- Bridgeport, CT — $46,470
- Portland, ME — $46,460
- Minneapolis, MN — $46,310
- Raleigh, NC — $43,700
- Los Angeles, CA — $43,500
- San Jose, CA — $43,410
- Hartford, CT — $42,650
- San Francisco, CA — $42,400
- Atlantic City, NJ — $42,350
- Fort Collins, CO — $41,230
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $59,510 | $49,996 | $36,830 – $99,970 | 6,930 |
| Oregon | $57,580 | $44,237 | $34,880 – $76,810 | 1,860 |
| District of Columbia | $54,570 | $43,919 | $36,400 – $130,950 | 870 |
| South Dakota | $49,800 | $42,194 | $32,090 – $61,900 | 690 |
| Vermont | $48,650 | $40,074 | $30,960 – $80,530 | 440 |
| Connecticut | $44,620 | $36,949 | $34,010 – $72,620 | 4,090 |
| Maine | $44,000 | $35,746 | $30,640 – $63,640 | 970 |
| Minnesota | $39,170 | $32,376 | $23,590 – $78,880 | 5,320 |
| California | $38,660 | $32,205 | $35,360 – $68,640 | 27,080 |
| North Carolina | $38,410 | $32,019 | $26,880 – $61,530 | 8,490 |
| Montana | $38,000 | $31,684 | $22,160 – $75,440 | 690 |
| New Mexico | $37,750 | $31,856 | $27,190 – $52,560 | 1,230 |
| Colorado | $37,690 | $31,514 | $31,520 – $98,860 | 6,820 |
| Massachusetts | $37,290 | $30,498 | $31,600 – $79,330 | 9,600 |
| Arizona | $36,810 | $31,045 | $31,050 – $57,790 | 7,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,790 | $30,611 | $23,700 – $68,750 | 19,350 |
| Maryland | $36,420 | $30,077 | $31,830 – $72,940 | 5,860 |
| Ohio | $36,260 | $31,100 | $23,520 – $77,330 | 12,890 |
| Wisconsin | $36,230 | $30,478 | $23,790 – $58,970 | 6,260 |
| New Jersey | $36,150 | $30,679 | $32,220 – $92,090 | 15,500 |
| New York | $35,760 | $29,579 | $33,960 – $88,540 | 20,740 |
| Iowa | $35,700 | $30,160 | $26,650 – $56,250 | 2,930 |
| Idaho | $35,480 | $29,916 | $22,810 – $48,000 | 2,250 |
| Utah | $35,140 | $29,800 | $21,810 – $75,860 | 2,810 |
| Hawaii | $35,040 | $29,102 | $29,120 – $73,820 | 930 |
| North Dakota | $34,850 | $30,182 | $24,130 – $77,800 | 870 |
| Michigan | $34,820 | $28,929 | $25,960 – $95,370 | 8,970 |
| New Hampshire | $34,650 | $30,021 | $25,720 – $58,210 | 1,950 |
| Georgia | $34,560 | $28,778 | $17,310 – $79,170 | 7,910 |
| West Virginia | $34,480 | $28,970 | $23,580 – $60,300 | 1,020 |
| Delaware | $34,350 | $28,551 | $31,200 – $75,950 | 1,270 |
| Nebraska | $34,320 | $29,074 | $28,080 – $73,740 | 1,890 |
| Illinois | $34,040 | $27,991 | $31,200 – $58,960 | 13,190 |
| Nevada | $33,840 | $29,370 | $26,160 – $64,300 | 1,940 |
| South Carolina | $33,700 | $28,393 | $21,340 – $77,430 | 3,570 |
| Indiana | $32,830 | $27,620 | $23,890 – $58,620 | 5,920 |
| Alaska | $32,150 | $28,013 | $30,900 – $55,850 | 330 |
| Tennessee | $31,310 | $27,338 | $25,700 – $58,000 | 6,080 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | $26,696 | $31,200 – $38,630 | 1,470 |
| Missouri | $30,750 | $26,380 | $28,600 – $58,530 | 5,430 |
| Texas | $30,680 | $26,831 | $23,580 – $59,730 | 22,440 |
| Kentucky | $29,840 | $25,230 | $22,580 – $76,170 | 2,350 |
| Kansas | $29,710 | $25,171 | $21,910 – $77,790 | 2,190 |
| Oklahoma | $29,650 | $25,215 | $18,980 – $60,390 | 1,920 |
| Florida | $29,530 | $25,907 | $27,450 – $58,320 | 23,530 |
| Wyoming | $29,170 | $25,618 | $18,150 – $56,640 | 360 |
| Alabama | $29,150 | $24,410 | $21,300 – $56,700 | 3,300 |
| Arkansas | $28,830 | $24,433 | $23,920 – $49,990 | 1,410 |
| Mississippi | $27,560 | $23,935 | $17,370 – $58,790 | 1,040 |
| Louisiana | $26,030 | $22,651 | $21,590 – $33,900 | 2,720 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make?
The national median salary for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is $35,790 a year ($17.21 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,040 and the top 10% earn over $71,190. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $59,510. After taxes and local prices, Spokane, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists are there in the U.S.?
About 305,710 people work as hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists nationwide.
All 107 cities
- Akron, OH
- Albany, NY
- Albuquerque, NM
- Allentown, PA
- Atlanta, GA
- Atlantic City, NJ
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Birmingham, AL
- Boise City, ID
- Boston, MA
- Boulder, CO
- Bridgeport, CT
- Buffalo, NY
- Cape Coral, FL
- Charleston, SC
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Columbia, SC
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Dayton, OH
- Deltona, FL
- Denver, CO
- Des Moines, IA
- Detroit, MI
- Durham, NC
- El Paso, TX
- Fayetteville, AR
- Fort Collins, CO
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Greensboro, NC
- Greenville, SC
- Hagerstown, MD
- Harrisburg, PA
- Hartford, CT
- Houston, TX
- Huntsville, AL
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Kiryas Joel, NY
- Knoxville, TN
- Lakeland, FL
- Lancaster, PA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Lexington, KY
- Little Rock, AR
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Madison, WI
- Manchester, NH
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Naples, FL
- Nashville, TN
- New Haven, CT
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- North Port, FL
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Omaha, NE
- Orlando, FL
- Oxnard, CA
- Palm Bay, FL
- Pensacola, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, ME
- Portland, OR
- Providence, RI
- Provo, UT
- Raleigh, NC
- Reading, PA
- Riverside, CA
- Rochester, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Scranton, PA
- Seattle, WA
- Spokane, WA
- Springfield, MO
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Toledo, OH
- Trenton, NJ
- Tucson, AZ
- Tulsa, OK
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- Washington, DC
- Wichita, KS
- Wilmington, NC
- Winston, NC
- Worcester, MA
- York, PA