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. Excludes “Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance” (39-5091), “Manicurists and Pedicurists” (39-5092), and “Skincare Specialists” (39-5094).
National median · BLS
$35,790
▲ +1.53%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$43,960
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
305,710
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$27,040
25th
$30,120
Median (50th)
$35,790
75th
$48,830
90th — top pay
$71,190
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
BLS projects employment of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists to grow 7.7% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 73,400 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
595,000 → 640,900
+45,900 jobs
Projected change
+7.7%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
73,400
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
No related experience required
Self-employed
48.1% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening3.9
Speaking3.8
Service Orientation3.6
Critical Thinking3.4
Active Learning3.3
Judgment and Decision Making3.3
Social Perceptiveness3.1
Complex Problem Solving3.0
Monitoring3.0
Reading Comprehension3.0
Top knowledge areas
Customer and Personal Service4.7
Sales and Marketing4.2
English Language3.6
Administration and Management3.3
Education and Training3.2
Public Safety and Security3.0
Sociology and Anthropology3.0
Administrative2.9
Software and technology used
Apple iOSFacebookIntuit QuickBooksMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WordAppointment scheduling softwareCustomer information databasesSale processing softwareYouTube
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists do
Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
Schedule client appointments.
Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
Massage and treat scalp for hygienic and remedial purposes, using hands, fingers, or vibrating equipment.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $35,790.
