How much does a hairdresser make?
The median hairdresser in the United States earns $35,790 per year, about $17.21 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all hairdressers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 39-5012.
Hairdresser salary range
Pay for hairdressers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $27,040 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $71,190. The average (mean) wage of $43,960 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,040 | $13.00 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $30,120 | $14.48 | |
| Median (50th) | $35,790 | $17.21 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $48,830 | $23.48 | |
| 90th percentile | $71,190 | $34.23 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (SOC 39-5012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Hairdresser salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Hairdressers earn the most in Washington at $59,510 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $26,030. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $59,510 | 6,930 |
| Oregon | $57,580 | 1,860 |
| District of Columbia | $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 |
State median wages for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (SOC 39-5012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for hairdressers
The BLS projects employment of hairdressers to grow 7.7% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 595,000 jobs in 2025 moving toward 640,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 73,400 openings a year for hairdressers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a hairdresser
The typical entry-level education for hairdressers is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a hairdresser earns
Employer, clientele, region, and in many cases tips shape pay. Established professionals in affluent, high cost areas earn near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $59,510) and the lowest (Louisiana, $26,030) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 305,710 people work as hairdressers in the United States. At $35,790 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Hairdresser salary FAQ
How much does a hairdresser make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a hairdresser is $17.21. The middle half of hairdressers earn between $14.48 and $23.48 per hour.
What is the highest hairdresser salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of hairdressers earn more than $71,190 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a hairdresser make a year?
The median annual salary for a hairdresser is $35,790. The average (mean) wage of $43,960 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a hairdresser a well paid job?
At $35,790 a year, a hairdresser earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 305,710 people work as hairdressers in the United States.
Which state pays hairdressers the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for hairdressers at $59,510 a year. Oregon ($57,580) and District of Columbia ($54,570) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a hairdresser a good career?
Employment of hairdressers is projected to grow 7.7% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 73,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a hairdresser?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for hairdressers as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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