Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$27,040
- 25th Percentile — Junior$30,120
- 50th Percentile — Median$35,790
- 75th Percentile — Senior$48,830
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$71,190
The top 10% of Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists earn $71,190 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $27,040, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $70,320 | +60.0% |
| Washington | $63,800 | +45.1% |
| Oregon | $57,220 | +30.2% |
| Vermont | $54,760 | +24.6% |
| New Jersey | $52,200 | +18.7% |
| Colorado | $51,590 | +17.4% |
| New York | $50,040 | +13.8% |
| Massachusetts | $49,700 | +13.1% |
| Connecticut | $49,130 | +11.8% |
| Maine | $48,760 | +10.9% |
| Virginia (est.) | $48,356 | +10.0% |
| South Dakota | $48,310 | +9.9% |
| California | $48,290 | +9.8% |
| Minnesota | $48,240 | +9.7% |
| Michigan | $47,290 | +7.6% |
| Hawaii | $45,920 | +4.5% |
| Maryland | $45,350 | +3.2% |
| Ohio | $44,680 | +1.6% |
| Nebraska | $43,850 | -0.3% |
| North Dakota | $43,810 | -0.3% |
| North Carolina | $43,670 | -0.7% |
| Arizona | $43,000 | -2.2% |
| Pennsylvania | $43,000 | -2.2% |
| Delaware | $42,990 | -2.2% |
| Montana | $42,890 | -2.4% |
| Georgia | $42,830 | -2.6% |
| South Carolina | $42,580 | -3.1% |
| Utah | $41,840 | -4.8% |
| Alaska | $41,750 | -5.0% |
| Kentucky | $41,390 | -5.8% |
| Iowa | $40,410 | -8.1% |
| West Virginia | $40,320 | -8.3% |
| Missouri | $40,240 | -8.5% |
| Kansas | $39,980 | -9.1% |
| Illinois | $39,720 | -9.6% |
| New Mexico | $39,550 | -10.0% |
| Wisconsin | $39,190 | -10.9% |
| New Hampshire | $39,180 | -10.9% |
| Nevada | $38,830 | -11.7% |
| Texas | $38,820 | -11.7% |
| Tennessee | $38,100 | -13.3% |
| Indiana | $36,720 | -16.5% |
| Oklahoma | $36,290 | -17.4% |
| Florida | $36,210 | -17.6% |
| Idaho | $35,740 | -18.7% |
| Rhode Island | $35,620 | -19.0% |
| Wyoming | $34,370 | -21.8% |
| Mississippi | $33,830 | -23.0% |
| Alabama | $33,700 | -23.3% |
| Arkansas | $33,100 | -24.7% |
| Louisiana | $27,600 | -37.2% |
What Factors Affect Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $70,320, while Louisiana pays $27,600 — a gap of $42,720 per year.
The middle half of Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists earn between $30,120 and $48,830 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,040, while the top 10% earn more than $71,190.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists?
The average salary for Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists in the United States is $43,960 per year, with a median of $35,790.
What is the starting salary for Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists?
Entry-level Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists typically earn between $27,040 and $30,120 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists the most?
District of Columbia pays Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists the most at $70,320 per year on average, followed by Washington ($63,800) and Oregon ($57,220).
How much do Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $43,960, Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists earn approximately $21.13 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 305,710 Hairdressers Hairstylists and Cosmetologists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $43,960 and a median of $35,790 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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