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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

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)
285,980 1.6 % $ 17.30 $ 35,990 1.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 10.03 $ 11.52 $ 14.26 $ 18.65 $ 28.40
Annual Wage (2) $ 20,860 $ 23,960 $ 29,670 $ 38,790 $ 59,070


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 253,060 38.88 $ 17.34 $ 36,080
General Merchandise Stores 13,790 0.45 $ 17.68 $ 36,770
Health and Personal Care Stores 11,690 1.16 $ 13.59 $ 28,260
Motion Picture and Video Industries 910 0.29 $ 36.86 $ 76,670
Employment Services 900 0.03 $ 23.35 $ 48,570

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 253,060 38.88 $ 17.34 $ 36,080
Health and Personal Care Stores 11,690 1.16 $ 13.59 $ 28,260
General Merchandise Stores 13,790 0.45 $ 17.68 $ 36,770
Motion Picture and Video Industries 910 0.29 $ 36.86 $ 76,670
Death Care Services 180 0.14 $ 20.28 $ 42,170

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 910 0.29 $ 36.86 $ 76,670
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 30 (7) $ 28.04 $ 58,320
Employment Services 900 0.03 $ 23.35 $ 48,570
Offices of Physicians (8) (8) $ 22.35 $ 46,490
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 440 0.04 $ 21.41 $ 44,530


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 2021


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 22,360 1.83 0.90 $ 14.27 $ 29,680
Pennsylvania 20,330 3.64 1.79 $ 16.54 $ 34,400
California 18,630 1.13 0.56 $ 18.65 $ 38,790
Florida 18,540 2.15 1.06 $ 16.19 $ 33,680
New York 16,650 1.92 0.95 $ 19.39 $ 40,330


Map of location quotient of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists by state, May 2021


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)
Delaware 1,680 3.86 1.90 $ 17.62 $ 36,650
Pennsylvania 20,330 3.64 1.79 $ 16.54 $ 34,400
New Jersey 13,960 3.63 1.79 $ 18.93 $ 39,370
New Hampshire 1,860 2.93 1.44 $ 16.42 $ 34,140
Massachusetts 9,930 2.92 1.44 $ 21.27 $ 44,240


Map of annual mean wages of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists by state, May 2021


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)
District of Columbia 550 0.83 0.41 $ 34.87 $ 72,530
Massachusetts 9,930 2.92 1.44 $ 21.27 $ 44,240
Michigan 8,300 2.05 1.01 $ 21.19 $ 44,070
Washington 6,710 2.09 1.03 $ 20.96 $ 43,590
Hawaii 1,120 2.04 1.00 $ 20.85 $ 43,370



Map of employment of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists by area, May 2021


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 22,210 2.56 1.26 $ 19.67 $ 40,920
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 11,920 2.81 1.39 $ 20.39 $ 42,400
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 9,820 3.70 1.82 $ 17.53 $ 36,460
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 8,600 3.32 1.64 $ 20.90 $ 43,480
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 7,130 1.99 0.98 $ 15.05 $ 31,310
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 6,090 1.07 0.52 $ 20.20 $ 42,010
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,820 1.99 0.98 $ 21.83 $ 45,400
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 5,630 1.94 0.96 $ 13.99 $ 29,090
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 5,500 2.60 1.28 $ 19.51 $ 40,590
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 5,460 2.11 1.04 $ 19.05 $ 39,620


Map of location quotient of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists by area, May 2021


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 320 5.60 2.76 $ 15.00 $ 31,200
Ocean City, NJ 200 5.07 2.50 $ 17.90 $ 37,230
Johnstown, PA 240 5.05 2.49 $ 15.88 $ 33,030
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL 230 4.43 2.18 $ 17.17 $ 35,710
Pittsburgh, PA 4,580 4.39 2.16 $ 16.62 $ 34,570
Reading, PA 710 4.37 2.16 $ 16.94 $ 35,240
East Stroudsburg, PA 230 4.35 2.14 $ 15.31 $ 31,840
Homosassa Springs, FL 140 4.35 2.14 $ 15.45 $ 32,140
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 1,510 4.35 2.14 $ 16.51 $ 34,340
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL 620 4.27 2.10 $ 19.36 $ 40,260


Map of annual mean wages of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists by area, May 2021


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)
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI 280 2.07 1.02 $ 25.78 $ 53,630
Lansing-East Lansing, MI 380 1.91 0.94 $ 25.71 $ 53,470
Barnstable Town, MA 330 3.40 1.68 $ 25.30 $ 52,630
Muskegon, MI 120 2.03 1.00 $ 23.80 $ 49,500
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 100 1.62 0.80 $ 22.25 $ 46,290
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 1,250 2.47 1.22 $ 22.15 $ 46,070
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,820 1.99 0.98 $ 21.83 $ 45,400
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 410 1.32 0.65 $ 21.62 $ 44,960
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 210 2.48 1.22 $ 21.38 $ 44,460
Worcester, MA-CT 530 1.97 0.97 $ 21.33 $ 44,370

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) 770 2.45 1.21 $ 12.33 $ 25,650
Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 560 4.04 1.99 $ 15.91 $ 33,090
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 520 2.86 1.41 $ 14.60 $ 30,360
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 470 2.34 1.15 $ 13.85 $ 28,800
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 460 1.21 0.60 $ 13.83 $ 28,760

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 560 4.04 1.99 $ 15.91 $ 33,090
Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 390 3.05 1.50 $ 12.69 $ 26,400
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 520 2.86 1.41 $ 14.60 $ 30,360
Northeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 200 2.79 1.37 $ 17.21 $ 35,800
Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 360 2.45 1.21 $ 14.99 $ 31,180

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)
Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 160 1.56 0.77 $ 22.67 $ 47,150
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 90 1.58 0.78 $ 22.48 $ 46,750
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 140 1.17 0.58 $ 21.13 $ 43,950
Arizona nonmetropolitan area 40 0.41 0.20 $ 19.00 $ 39,520
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area 50 0.47 0.23 $ 18.74 $ 38,990


About May 2021 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.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(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 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022