SOC 39-5012 · May 2025
Hairstylist Salary
Hairstylists in the US earn a median of $35,790 a year ($21.13 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Hairstylist pay climbed from $31,530 in 2019 to $43,960 in 2025, a +39.4% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$35,790
Half of all Hairstylists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+39.4% since 2019 · +1.2% YoY
Hourly
$21.13
Job growth 2025-35
+7.7%
US workers
305,710
BLS series
Annual median wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Hairstylists is $27,040 – $71,190.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$27,040
25th
$30,120
Median
$35,790
75th
$48,830
90th
$71,190
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Hairstylists. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $27,040 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $30,120 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $35,790 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $48,830 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $71,190 |
Geography
Hairstylist pay by state
Hairstylists earn the most in Washington ($59,510, +66% against the national median) and the least in Louisiana ($26,030). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 50 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$35,790
Highest-paying states for hairstylists
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $59,510 | +66% | 6,930 |
| Oregon | $57,580 | +61% | 1,860 |
| D.C. | $54,570 | +52% | 870 |
| South Dakota | $49,800 | +39% | 690 |
| Vermont | $48,650 | +36% | 440 |
| Connecticut | $44,620 | +25% | 4,090 |
| Maine | $44,000 | +23% | 970 |
| Minnesota | $39,170 | +9% | 5,320 |
| California | $38,660 | +8% | 27,080 |
| North Carolina | $38,410 | +7% | 8,490 |
All 50 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $59,510 | 6,930 |
| Oregon | $57,580 | 1,860 |
| D.C. | $54,570 | 870 |
| South Dakota | $49,800 | 690 |
| Vermont | $48,650 | 440 |
| Connecticut | $44,620 | 4,090 |
| Maine | $44,000 | 970 |
| Minnesota | $39,170 | 5,320 |
| California | $38,660 | 27,080 |
| North Carolina | $38,410 | 8,490 |
| Montana | $38,000 | 690 |
| New Mexico | $37,750 | 1,230 |
| Colorado | $37,690 | 6,820 |
| Massachusetts | $37,290 | 9,600 |
| Arizona | $36,810 | 7,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,790 | 19,350 |
| Maryland | $36,420 | 5,860 |
| Ohio | $36,260 | 12,890 |
| Wisconsin | $36,230 | 6,260 |
| New Jersey | $36,150 | 15,500 |
| New York | $35,760 | 20,740 |
| Iowa | $35,700 | 2,930 |
| Idaho | $35,480 | 2,250 |
| Utah | $35,140 | 2,810 |
| Hawaii | $35,040 | 930 |
| North Dakota | $34,850 | 870 |
| Michigan | $34,820 | 8,970 |
| New Hampshire | $34,650 | 1,950 |
| Georgia | $34,560 | 7,910 |
| West Virginia | $34,480 | 1,020 |
| Delaware | $34,350 | 1,270 |
| Nebraska | $34,320 | 1,890 |
| Illinois | $34,040 | 13,190 |
| Nevada | $33,840 | 1,940 |
| South Carolina | $33,700 | 3,570 |
| Indiana | $32,830 | 5,920 |
| Alaska | $32,150 | 330 |
| Tennessee | $31,310 | 6,080 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | 1,470 |
| Missouri | $30,750 | 5,430 |
| Texas | $30,680 | 22,440 |
| Kentucky | $29,840 | 2,350 |
| Kansas | $29,710 | 2,190 |
| Oklahoma | $29,650 | 1,920 |
| Florida | $29,530 | 23,530 |
| Wyoming | $29,170 | 360 |
| Alabama | $29,150 | 3,300 |
| Arkansas | $28,830 | 1,410 |
| Mississippi | $27,560 | 1,040 |
| Louisiana | $26,030 | 2,720 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Hairstylists
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (BLS SOC 39-5012) cut, style, and treat hair in salons, barbershops, and full-service spas. State licensure is required after completion of a cosmetology program (typically 1,000–1,600 hours). OEWS figures reflect employer-paid wages but understate earnings for booth-renters, commission-based stylists, and salon owners. Tip income, often 15–25% of service revenue, is also excluded.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $27,040 – $71,190. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Washington, Oregon and D.C.. Pay in Washington runs 2.3 times the level in Louisiana, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as postsecondary nondegree award, and projects about 73,400 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 7.7% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Hairstylist salary in the US?
How much does a Hairstylist make an hour?
How much do Hairstylists make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Hairstylists the most?
Is the average Hairstylist salary higher than the median?
Is Hairstylist a growing career?
Open positions
Open Hairstylist roles hiring now
Browse current Hairstylist listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 39-5012. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.