Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (SOC 39-5012) employed 305,710 people in May 2025. The median pay is $35,790 a year ($17.21 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,040 and the highest-paid 10% more than $71,190. BLS projects its employment to change by +7.7% between 2025 and 2035 (about 73,400 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Highest median pay: Washington ($59,510), Oregon ($57,580), District of Columbia ($54,570). Most jobs: California (27,080), Florida (23,530), Texas (22,440).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| 25th percentile | $30,120 | $14.48 |
| Median | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Mean | $43,960 | $21.13 |
| 75th percentile | $48,830 | $23.48 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $71,190 | $34.23 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 595,000 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 640,900 |
| Change in jobs | 45,900 |
| Percent change | +7.7% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 73,400 |
| Self-employed share | 48.1% |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3,300 | 0.79 | $29,150 | $21,300 | $56,700 | -19% | 41% |
| Alaska | 330 | 0.52 | $32,150 | $30,900 | $55,850 | -10% | 53% |
| Arizona | 7,840 | 1.23 | $36,810 | $31,050 | $57,790 | +3% | 50% |
| Arkansas | 1,410 | 0.55 | $28,830 | $23,920 | $49,990 | -19% | 39% |
| California | 27,080 | 0.76 | $38,660 | $35,360 | $68,640 | +8% | 63% |
| Colorado | 6,820 | 1.21 | $37,690 | $31,520 | $98,860 | +5% | 56% |
| Connecticut | 4,090 | 1.23 | $44,620 | $34,010 | $72,620 | +25% | 40% |
| Delaware | 1,270 | 1.33 | $34,350 | $31,200 | $75,950 | -4% | 49% |
| District of Columbia | 870 | 0.63 | $54,570 | $36,400 | $130,950 | +52% | 43% |
| Florida | 23,530 | 1.21 | $29,530 | $27,450 | $58,320 | -17% | 68% |
| Georgia | 7,910 | 0.82 | $34,560 | $17,310 | $79,170 | -3% | 48% |
| Hawaii | 930 | 0.76 | $35,040 | $29,120 | $73,820 | -2% | 68% |
| Idaho | 2,250 | 1.34 | $35,480 | $22,810 | $48,000 | -1% | 42% |
| Illinois | 13,190 | 1.10 | $34,040 | $31,200 | $58,960 | -5% | 45% |
| Indiana | 5,920 | 0.94 | $32,830 | $23,890 | $58,620 | -8% | 39% |
| Iowa | 2,930 | 0.96 | $35,700 | $26,650 | $56,250 | -0% | 33% |
| Kansas | 2,190 | 0.77 | $29,710 | $21,910 | $77,790 | -17% | 43% |
| Kentucky | 2,350 | 0.60 | $29,840 | $22,580 | $76,170 | -17% | 39% |
| Louisiana | 2,720 | 0.71 | $26,030 | $21,590 | $33,900 | -27% | 49% |
| Maine | 970 | 0.77 | $44,000 | $30,640 | $63,640 | +23% | 31% |
| Maryland | 5,860 | 1.08 | $36,420 | $31,830 | $72,940 | +2% | 56% |
| Massachusetts | 9,600 | 1.34 | $37,290 | $31,600 | $79,330 | +4% | 57% |
| Michigan | 8,970 | 1.04 | $34,820 | $25,960 | $95,370 | -3% | 39% |
| Minnesota | 5,320 | 0.92 | $39,170 | $23,590 | $78,880 | +9% | 39% |
| Mississippi | 1,040 | 0.45 | $27,560 | $17,370 | $58,790 | -23% | 42% |
| Missouri | 5,430 | 0.94 | $30,750 | $28,600 | $58,530 | -14% | 40% |
| Montana | 690 | 0.68 | $38,000 | $22,160 | $75,440 | +6% | 34% |
| Nebraska | 1,890 | 0.94 | $34,320 | $28,080 | $73,740 | -4% | 37% |
| Nevada | 1,940 | 0.64 | $33,840 | $26,160 | $64,300 | -5% | 57% |
| New Hampshire | 1,950 | 1.45 | $34,650 | $25,720 | $58,210 | -3% | 52% |
| New Jersey | 15,500 | 1.84 | $36,150 | $32,220 | $92,090 | +1% | 57% |
| New Mexico | 1,230 | 0.72 | $37,750 | $27,190 | $52,560 | +5% | 34% |
| New York | 20,740 | 1.09 | $35,760 | $33,960 | $88,540 | -0% | 54% |
| North Carolina | 8,490 | 0.87 | $38,410 | $26,880 | $61,530 | +7% | 38% |
| North Dakota | 870 | 1.03 | $34,850 | $24,130 | $77,800 | -3% | 33% |
| Ohio | 12,890 | 1.18 | $36,260 | $23,520 | $77,330 | +1% | 34% |
| Oklahoma | 1,920 | 0.57 | $29,650 | $18,980 | $60,390 | -17% | 41% |
| Oregon | 1,860 | 0.48 | $57,580 | $34,880 | $76,810 | +61% | 32% |
| Pennsylvania | 19,350 | 1.62 | $36,790 | $23,700 | $68,750 | +3% | 39% |
| Rhode Island | 1,470 | 1.49 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $38,630 | -13% | 52% |
| South Carolina | 3,570 | 0.79 | $33,700 | $21,340 | $77,430 | -6% | 42% |
| South Dakota | 690 | 0.77 | $49,800 | $32,090 | $61,900 | +39% | 23% |
| Tennessee | 6,080 | 0.94 | $31,310 | $25,700 | $58,000 | -13% | 46% |
| Texas | 22,440 | 0.81 | $30,680 | $23,580 | $59,730 | -14% | 55% |
| Utah | 2,810 | 0.82 | $35,140 | $21,810 | $75,860 | -2% | 51% |
| Vermont | 440 | 0.73 | $48,650 | $30,960 | $80,530 | +36% | 30% |
| Virginia | 10,200 | 1.26 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Washington | 6,930 | 0.99 | $59,510 | $36,830 | $99,970 | +66% | 35% |
| West Virginia | 1,020 | 0.74 | $34,480 | $23,580 | $60,300 | -4% | 30% |
| Wisconsin | 6,260 | 1.08 | $36,230 | $23,790 | $58,970 | +1% | 36% |
| Wyoming | 360 | 0.65 | $29,170 | $18,150 | $56,640 | -18% | 41% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 570 | $61,440 | $35,470 | $100,180 | 1.14 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 4,510 | $59,810 | $38,910 | $101,340 | 1.10 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,500 | $59,610 | $35,350 | $77,620 | 0.63 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 320 | $50,500 | $32,940 | $60,290 | 0.92 |
| Boulder, CO | 490 | $48,120 | $35,060 | $103,430 | 1.30 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 530 | $48,060 | $28,610 | $77,880 | 0.79 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 370 | $46,520 | $31,240 | $97,620 | 2.01 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,500 | $46,470 | $34,010 | $73,820 | 1.89 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 600 | $46,460 | $33,240 | $74,540 | 1.06 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3,920 | $46,310 | $25,640 | $82,500 | 1.02 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,810 | $43,700 | $27,300 | $70,550 | 1.24 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 10,910 | $43,500 | $36,490 | $73,260 | 0.89 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,030 | $43,410 | $37,990 | $60,280 | 0.91 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,180 | $42,650 | $34,010 | $70,920 | 1.00 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,370 | $42,400 | $35,540 | $54,940 | 0.72 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 630 | $42,350 | $33,770 | $81,010 | 1.89 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 560 | $41,230 | $31,700 | $81,180 | 1.69 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 1,270 | $40,720 | $22,230 | $80,410 | 0.78 |
| Asheville, NC | 330 | $40,620 | $27,420 | $60,190 | 0.93 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 690 | $39,990 | $32,220 | $101,350 | 1.46 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 550 | $38,980 | $23,990 | $57,370 | 1.02 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 1,290 | $38,740 | $25,960 | $96,060 | 1.10 |
| Tucson, AZ | 890 | $38,590 | $30,580 | $61,620 | 1.17 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 2,940 | $38,530 | $28,160 | $61,530 | 1.10 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 850 | $38,330 | $27,600 | $50,030 | 1.07 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 370 | $38,280 | $36,460 | $63,820 | 0.93 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 2,070 | $38,190 | $26,740 | $59,620 | 1.28 |
| Akron, OH | 1,140 | $38,100 | $24,130 | $79,950 | 1.82 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 4,190 | $38,100 | $23,750 | $77,730 | 1.91 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 1,350 | $37,690 | $28,490 | $95,840 | 1.83 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 380 | $37,690 | $34,320 | $60,440 | 0.67 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 470 | $37,620 | $24,380 | $60,600 | 0.66 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 500 | $37,440 | $34,410 | $61,900 | 0.79 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 7,870 | $37,430 | $31,600 | $78,850 | 1.48 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 9,960 | $37,320 | $28,600 | $64,530 | 1.75 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,870 | $37,290 | $35,500 | $62,130 | 0.95 |
| Wilmington, NC | 500 | $37,230 | $24,320 | $60,450 | 1.32 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 7,010 | $37,020 | $26,900 | $78,900 | 1.14 |
| Modesto, CA | 320 | $36,960 | $34,420 | $62,180 | 0.82 |
| Rochester, NY | 730 | $36,830 | $32,240 | $73,620 | 0.76 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 6,440 | $36,810 | $31,340 | $56,890 | 1.38 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 2,540 | $36,790 | $24,230 | $80,150 | 1.17 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,800 | $36,780 | $34,610 | $60,440 | 0.85 |
| Springfield, MA | 410 | $36,690 | $31,200 | $91,030 | 1.04 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 870 | $36,680 | $30,910 | $97,330 | 1.40 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 4,150 | $36,530 | $34,300 | $100,340 | 1.31 |
| Madison, WI | 890 | $36,490 | $23,580 | $48,680 | 1.11 |
| Reno, NV | 380 | $36,490 | $26,280 | $59,800 | 0.70 |
| New Haven, CT | 570 | $36,480 | $34,010 | $71,950 | 1.04 |
| Toledo, OH | 650 | $36,440 | $23,170 | $74,520 | 1.13 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 430 | $36,430 | $34,010 | $62,290 | 1.37 |
| Worcester, MA | 640 | $36,430 | $31,200 | $93,210 | 0.94 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 2,080 | $36,410 | $34,320 | $59,800 | 0.62 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 1,220 | $36,390 | $28,080 | $75,130 | 1.24 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 2,700 | $36,370 | $31,820 | $59,530 | 1.01 |
| Reading, PA | 620 | $36,350 | $27,700 | $65,100 | 1.80 |
| Columbus, OH | 2,420 | $36,260 | $23,580 | $78,040 | 1.12 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 27,660 | $36,120 | $33,480 | $91,780 | 1.48 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 510 | $36,050 | $23,140 | $74,850 | 1.41 |
| Boise City, ID | 1,250 | $35,890 | $22,860 | $47,190 | 1.62 |
The median is $35,790 a year ($17.21 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $27,040 and the highest-paid tenth over $71,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
305,710 in May 2025, and BLS projects +7.7% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS).
Washington, with a median of $59,510 (among states with published figures).