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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

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)
294,840 2.6 % $ 20.09 $ 41,780 0.9 %

Percentile wage estimates for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 11.31 $ 13.87 $ 16.81 $ 22.80 $ 30.44
Annual Wage (2) $ 23,520 $ 28,850 $ 34,970 $ 47,420 $ 63,310


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 264,880 36.16 $ 20.34 $ 42,310
General Merchandise Retailers 15,940 0.50 $ 14.63 $ 30,420
Health and Personal Care Retailers 4,520 0.41 $ 14.36 $ 29,870
Employment Services 1,590 0.04 $ 17.17 $ 35,720
Traveler Accommodation 880 0.05 $ 19.05 $ 39,610

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 264,880 36.16 $ 20.34 $ 42,310
General Merchandise Retailers 15,940 0.50 $ 14.63 $ 30,420
Health and Personal Care Retailers 4,520 0.41 $ 14.36 $ 29,870
Technical and Trade Schools 380 0.26 $ 22.32 $ 46,420
Motion Picture and Video Industries 800 0.20 $ 52.17 $ 108,520

Top paying industries for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Motion Picture and Video Industries 800 0.20 $ 52.17 $ 108,520
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 320 0.14 $ 46.12 $ 95,940
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 80 0.01 $ 42.16 $ 87,690
Performing Arts Companies 150 0.11 $ 41.64 $ 86,600
Death Care Services 120 0.09 $ 26.01 $ 54,100


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.



Map of employment of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists by state, May 2023


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 25,540 1.88 0.97 $ 18.29 $ 38,050
Florida 21,820 2.28 1.17 $ 18.78 $ 39,050
New York 21,000 2.24 1.15 $ 20.11 $ 41,830
California 20,450 1.14 0.59 $ 22.40 $ 46,600
Pennsylvania 19,120 3.21 1.66 $ 18.31 $ 38,070


Map of location quotient of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists by state, May 2023


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 14,470 3.44 1.77 $ 20.89 $ 43,440
Pennsylvania 19,120 3.21 1.66 $ 18.31 $ 38,070
Rhode Island 1,500 3.08 1.59 $ 17.12 $ 35,600
Delaware 1,310 2.80 1.44 $ 18.70 $ 38,890
Massachusetts 9,880 2.71 1.40 $ 25.17 $ 52,360


Map of annual mean wages of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists by state, May 2023


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)
Washington 6,680 1.91 0.98 $ 30.01 $ 62,410
District of Columbia 850 1.21 0.62 $ 27.36 $ 56,900
Massachusetts 9,880 2.71 1.40 $ 25.17 $ 52,360
Maine 1,090 1.76 0.91 $ 25.16 $ 52,340
Colorado 6,560 2.32 1.19 $ 23.69 $ 49,270



Map of employment of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists by area, May 2023


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 26,850 2.83 1.46 $ 20.89 $ 43,460
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 12,220 2.71 1.40 $ 20.34 $ 42,310
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 10,370 3.66 1.89 $ 18.22 $ 37,890
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 8,220 2.07 1.07 $ 18.37 $ 38,220
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 8,120 2.94 1.51 $ 25.39 $ 52,800
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 7,480 1.21 0.62 $ 22.73 $ 47,280
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 6,900 2.23 1.15 $ 24.39 $ 50,720
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 6,160 1.94 1.00 $ 18.75 $ 39,000
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 5,550 2.42 1.25 $ 19.72 $ 41,010
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 5,350 2.82 1.45 $ 20.53 $ 42,700


Map of location quotient of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists by area, May 2023


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)
Altoona, PA 310 5.38 2.77 $ 16.60 $ 34,520
Ocean City, NJ 200 5.09 2.62 $ 19.68 $ 40,930
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL 280 5.06 2.61 $ 18.05 $ 37,540
Homosassa Springs, FL 170 5.05 2.60 $ 17.55 $ 36,510
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL 780 4.78 2.46 $ 20.66 $ 42,980
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL 1,440 4.45 2.29 $ 19.71 $ 40,990
Johnstown, PA 210 4.44 2.29 $ 18.06 $ 37,570
Punta Gorda, FL 220 4.05 2.09 $ 17.88 $ 37,180
Lewiston, ID-WA 110 3.97 2.04 $ 17.44 $ 36,280
Wheeling, WV-OH 230 3.97 2.04 $ 17.12 $ 35,610


Map of annual mean wages of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists by area, May 2023


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)
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 4,480 2.16 1.11 $ 31.64 $ 65,800
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA 500 1.97 1.01 $ 28.95 $ 60,220
Fort Collins, CO 540 3.10 1.60 $ 28.72 $ 59,740
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN 840 1.27 0.65 $ 28.48 $ 59,240
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 180 1.94 1.00 $ 28.12 $ 58,490
Portland-South Portland, ME 490 2.36 1.21 $ 26.78 $ 55,710
Olympia-Tumwater, WA 240 1.92 0.99 $ 26.28 $ 54,660
Kennewick-Richland, WA 240 1.88 0.97 $ 25.94 $ 53,960
Bellingham, WA 170 1.87 0.96 $ 25.86 $ 53,790
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 460 1.37 0.71 $ 25.68 $ 53,410

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) 680 2.09 1.08 $ 19.11 $ 39,750
Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 430 3.07 1.58 $ 15.96 $ 33,190
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 430 1.73 0.89 $ 18.60 $ 38,680
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 420 2.21 1.14 $ 16.55 $ 34,430
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 410 1.96 1.01 $ 15.40 $ 32,020

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)
Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 430 3.07 1.58 $ 15.96 $ 33,190
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 240 2.40 1.23 $ 21.20 $ 44,090
Northeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 170 2.29 1.18 $ 22.96 $ 47,770
Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 300 2.22 1.14 $ 25.96 $ 53,990
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 420 2.21 1.14 $ 16.55 $ 34,430

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)
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 140 1.11 0.57 $ 27.07 $ 56,310
Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 300 2.22 1.14 $ 25.96 $ 53,990
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 130 2.01 1.04 $ 24.18 $ 50,290
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 330 1.73 0.89 $ 24.18 $ 50,280
Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area 70 1.08 0.56 $ 23.69 $ 49,280


About May 2023 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.

(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 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024