Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is $35,790, or $17.21 per hour. About 305,710 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $59,510 in Washington to $26,030 in Louisiana.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 50 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $59,510 | $28.61 | 6,930 | 0.99 |
| 2 | Oregon | $57,580 | $27.68 | 1,860 | 0.48 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $54,570 | $26.23 | 870 | 0.63 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $49,800 | $23.94 | 690 | 0.77 |
| 5 | Vermont | $48,650 | $23.39 | 440 | 0.73 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $44,620 | $21.45 | 4,090 | 1.23 |
| 7 | Maine | $44,000 | $21.16 | 970 | 0.77 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $39,170 | $18.83 | 5,320 | 0.92 |
| 9 | California | $38,660 | $18.59 | 27,080 | 0.76 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $38,410 | $18.47 | 8,490 | 0.87 |
| 11 | Montana | $38,000 | $18.27 | 690 | 0.68 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $37,750 | $18.15 | 1,230 | 0.72 |
| 13 | Colorado | $37,690 | $18.12 | 6,820 | 1.21 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $37,290 | $17.93 | 9,600 | 1.34 |
| 15 | Arizona | $36,810 | $17.70 | 7,840 | 1.23 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $36,790 | $17.69 | 19,350 | 1.62 |
| 17 | Maryland | $36,420 | $17.51 | 5,860 | 1.08 |
| 18 | Ohio | $36,260 | $17.43 | 12,890 | 1.18 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $36,230 | $17.42 | 6,260 | 1.08 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $36,150 | $17.38 | 15,500 | 1.84 |
| 21 | New York | $35,760 | $17.19 | 20,740 | 1.09 |
| 22 | Iowa | $35,700 | $17.17 | 2,930 | 0.96 |
| 23 | Idaho | $35,480 | $17.06 | 2,250 | 1.34 |
| 24 | Utah | $35,140 | $16.89 | 2,810 | 0.82 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $35,040 | $16.85 | 930 | 0.76 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $34,850 | $16.76 | 870 | 1.03 |
| 27 | Michigan | $34,820 | $16.74 | 8,970 | 1.04 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $34,650 | $16.66 | 1,950 | 1.45 |
| 29 | Georgia | $34,560 | $16.62 | 7,910 | 0.82 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $34,480 | $16.58 | 1,020 | 0.74 |
| 31 | Delaware | $34,350 | $16.51 | 1,270 | 1.33 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $34,320 | $16.50 | 1,890 | 0.94 |
| 33 | Illinois | $34,040 | $16.37 | 13,190 | 1.10 |
| 34 | Nevada | $33,840 | $16.27 | 1,940 | 0.64 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $33,700 | $16.20 | 3,570 | 0.79 |
| 36 | Indiana | $32,830 | $15.78 | 5,920 | 0.94 |
| 37 | Alaska | $32,150 | $15.46 | 330 | 0.52 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $31,310 | $15.05 | 6,080 | 0.94 |
| 39 | Rhode Island | $31,200 | $15.00 | 1,470 | 1.49 |
| 40 | Missouri | $30,750 | $14.78 | 5,430 | 0.94 |
| 41 | Texas | $30,680 | $14.75 | 22,440 | 0.81 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $29,840 | $14.35 | 2,350 | 0.60 |
| 43 | Kansas | $29,710 | $14.28 | 2,190 | 0.77 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $29,650 | $14.26 | 1,920 | 0.57 |
| 45 | Florida | $29,530 | $14.20 | 23,530 | 1.21 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $29,170 | $14.03 | 360 | 0.65 |
| 47 | Alabama | $29,150 | $14.02 | 3,300 | 0.79 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $28,830 | $13.86 | 1,410 | 0.55 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $27,560 | $13.25 | 1,040 | 0.45 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $26,030 | $12.51 | 2,720 | 0.71 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make?
The median annual wage for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in the United States is $35,790, or $17.21 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $27,040, and the top 10% earn $71,190.
How many hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists are employed in the U.S.?
About 305,710 people work as hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists nationwide.
Which state pays hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the most?
Washington pays the most at a median of $59,510, followed by Oregon ($57,580) and District of Columbia ($54,570).
Which state pays hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists the least?
Louisiana has the lowest median at $26,030.
Where are hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is New Jersey at 1.84×.