Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Career, Salary and Skills
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $35,790 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 305,710. Wage data is published for 401 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
39-5012.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$35,790
Hourly median
$17.21
Employment
305,710
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.75 | 3.00 |
| Service Orientation | 3.62 | 3.25 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.38 | 3.50 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.25 | 2.50 |
| Active Learning | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 2.88 |
Typical tasks
- Schedule client appointments.
- Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
- Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
- Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
- Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
- Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
- Massage and treat scalp for hygienic and remedial purposes, using hands, fingers, or vibrating equipment.
- Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
Technology
- Apple iOS
- Appointment scheduling software
- Customer information databases
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
- Sale processing software
- YouTube
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in New York, NYMedian $36,120 · Employment 27,660
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in CAMedian $38,660 · Employment 27,080
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in FLMedian $29,530 · Employment 23,530
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in TXMedian $30,680 · Employment 22,440
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in NYMedian $35,760 · Employment 20,740
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in PAMedian $36,790 · Employment 19,350
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in NJMedian $36,150 · Employment 15,500
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in ILMedian $34,040 · Employment 13,190
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in OHMedian $36,260 · Employment 12,890
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $34,260 · Employment 12,000
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $43,500 · Employment 10,910
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Philadelphia, PAMedian $37,320 · Employment 9,960
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.