Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Charlotte, NC
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $38,530 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,110 take-home, or $2,676 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,444
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,389
- Medicare (1.45%)$559
- North Carolina income tax$1,029
- Take-home pay$32,110
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. 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 Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,160 | $13.54 | $24,185 | $2,015 |
| 25th percentile | $29,380 | $14.13 | $25,123 | $2,094 |
| Median (50th) | $38,530 | $18.52 | $32,110 | $2,676 |
| 75th percentile | $46,720 | $22.46 | $38,364 | $3,197 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,530 | $29.58 | $49,673 | $4,139 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,530 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists's $32,110 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,985 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 Charlotte, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #5 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 Charlotte, NC?
The median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $38,530 a year, or about $18.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,380 and $46,720.
What is a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $38,530 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $32,110 a year ($2,676 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,029 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $35,790. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,985 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #5 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $48,540
- Animal Caretaker — $33,530
- Childcare Worker — $30,390
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $28,900