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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020

39-5012 Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

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 estimates for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Industry profile for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Geographic profile for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

National estimates for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
302,410 1.6 % $ 15.74 $ 32,740 0.8 %

Percentile wage estimates for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 9.06 $ 10.34 $ 13.16 $ 18.25 $ 25.68
Annual Wage (2) $ 18,840 $ 21,520 $ 27,380 $ 37,970 $ 53,410


Industry profile for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Personal Care Services 240,920 44.70 $ 16.19 $ 33,680
General Merchandise Stores 45,420 1.52 $ 12.84 $ 26,720
Health and Personal Care Stores 8,450 0.87 $ 14.72 $ 30,620
Motion Picture and Video Industries 1,290 0.39 (8) (8)
Traveler Accommodation 890 0.06 $ 15.22 $ 31,650

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Personal Care Services 240,920 44.70 $ 16.19 $ 33,680
General Merchandise Stores 45,420 1.52 $ 12.84 $ 26,720
Health and Personal Care Stores 8,450 0.87 $ 14.72 $ 30,620
Motion Picture and Video Industries 1,290 0.39 (8) (8)
Technical and Trade Schools 240 0.19 $ 13.85 $ 28,810

Top paying industries for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Performing Arts Companies 130 0.12 $ 43.56 $ 90,600
Management of Companies and Enterprises 210 0.01 $ 23.02 $ 47,880
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) (8) (8) $ 22.67 $ 47,150
Death Care Services 170 0.13 $ 21.92 $ 45,600
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 50 0.01 $ 19.86 $ 41,300


Geographic profile for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 30,730 2.54 1.17 $ 12.69 $ 26,400
California 25,090 1.53 0.70 $ 17.79 $ 37,010
Florida 23,010 2.73 1.25 $ 14.63 $ 30,440
New York 16,570 1.91 0.88 $ 17.40 $ 36,190
Pennsylvania 15,490 2.81 1.29 $ 13.97 $ 29,060




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Jersey 14,800 3.91 1.80 $ 18.83 $ 39,160
New Hampshire 2,020 3.26 1.50 $ 13.28 $ 27,620
Delaware 1,370 3.22 1.48 $ 17.14 $ 35,660
Arizona 8,290 2.92 1.34 $ 16.68 $ 34,700
Ohio 14,790 2.88 1.32 $ 14.44 $ 30,040




Top paying states for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts 7,510 2.24 1.03 $ 22.26 $ 46,310
Washington 8,090 2.53 1.17 $ 21.76 $ 45,260
District of Columbia 610 0.89 0.41 $ 20.32 $ 42,270
Colorado 6,900 2.68 1.23 $ 19.43 $ 40,420
New Jersey 14,800 3.91 1.80 $ 18.83 $ 39,160





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 23,610 2.67 1.23 $ 18.53 $ 38,530
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 10,920 2.50 1.15 $ 15.60 $ 32,450
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 10,160 2.83 1.30 $ 12.81 $ 26,640
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 9,680 1.66 0.76 $ 18.20 $ 37,860
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 8,310 2.80 1.29 $ 11.85 $ 24,640
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 7,800 2.89 1.33 $ 16.17 $ 33,630
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 7,250 3.44 1.58 $ 16.74 $ 34,820
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 6,260 2.41 1.11 $ 21.89 $ 45,520
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 5,890 2.24 1.03 $ 18.33 $ 38,130
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 5,800 2.31 1.06 $ 13.80 $ 28,700




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Johnstown, PA 270 5.78 2.66 $ 12.05 $ 25,050
Panama City, FL 410 5.47 2.52 $ 12.98 $ 27,000
The Villages, FL 160 5.41 2.49 (8) (8)
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL 1,500 5.12 2.35 $ 15.91 $ 33,090
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL 1,330 5.09 2.34 $ 15.61 $ 32,460
Mansfield, OH 230 4.93 2.27 (8) (8)
Akron, OH 1,500 4.82 2.22 $ 13.75 $ 28,600
Lewiston, ID-WA 120 4.79 2.20 $ 12.26 $ 25,510
Altoona, PA 260 4.75 2.18 $ 10.96 $ 22,810
Dothan, AL 270 4.72 2.17 $ 13.18 $ 27,410




Top paying metropolitan areas for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Worcester, MA-CT 410 1.53 0.70 $ 24.32 $ 50,580
New Bedford, MA (8) (8) (8) $ 23.26 $ 48,390
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 5,700 2.91 1.34 $ 22.82 $ 47,470
Casper, WY (8) (8) (8) $ 22.69 $ 47,200
Barnstable Town, MA 340 3.70 1.70 $ 22.49 $ 46,770
Springfield, IL 230 2.31 1.06 $ 22.21 $ 46,190
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 6,260 2.41 1.11 $ 21.89 $ 45,520
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA 130 2.84 1.31 $ 21.37 $ 44,440
Pittsfield, MA 50 1.49 0.68 $ 21.34 $ 44,400
Bellingham, WA 90 1.12 0.51 $ 21.26 $ 44,230

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 700 2.26 1.04 $ 13.16 $ 27,370
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 540 1.43 0.66 $ 12.70 $ 26,410
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 490 2.49 1.14 $ 12.86 $ 26,750
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 480 2.02 0.93 $ 14.15 $ 29,420
Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 440 3.44 1.58 $ 12.29 $ 25,560

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 390 4.28 1.97 $ 10.70 $ 22,260
Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 440 3.44 1.58 $ 12.29 $ 25,560
Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area 200 2.61 1.20 $ 17.15 $ 35,670
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 490 2.49 1.14 $ 12.86 $ 26,750
Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 330 2.35 1.08 $ 15.78 $ 32,820

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 80 1.41 0.65 $ 21.31 $ 44,330
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 220 1.18 0.54 $ 20.79 $ 43,240
West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area 140 0.83 0.38 $ 20.06 $ 41,720
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 220 1.94 0.89 $ 19.61 $ 40,780
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 110 1.13 0.52 $ 17.75 $ 36,910


About May 2020 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2020 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2021