Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Postsecondary nondegree award
None
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists work in a people-focused career that combines technical skill with creativity. Nationally, this occupation employs about 575,000 workers, indicating a sizable field with many existing roles. The projected employment growth of 5.6% and an estimated 76,000 annual openings suggest ongoing demand for new professionals, whether to fill new positions or replace those who leave the field. Median annual pay of $35,250 places many workers in a modest earning range, with higher pay possible in some states and metro areas. This career relies heavily on customer service, interpersonal abilities, fine motor skills, and physical strength and stamina. Creativity and innovation are also central, along with adaptability and strong speaking and listening skills. The typical educational pathway is a postsecondary nondegree award, which may appeal to people who want to enter the workforce without completing a traditional four-year degree. Related options include roles such as animal trainers, dental hygienists, parking enforcement workers, personal care and service workers (all other), and acupuncturists.
The national median annual salary for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is $35,250. However, pay varies by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington stands out with a median salary of $59,510, notably higher than California at $38,660, Colorado at $37,690, Massachusetts at $37,290, and New York at $35,760. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area has a median salary of $43,410, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is close behind at $42,400. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro reports $36,120, while the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro is at $37,020, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $37,430. These figures show that earnings can be higher than the national median in certain states and metros, especially in specific parts of Washington and California, which may influence where professionals choose to build their careers.
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists have a national employment base of about 575,000 workers, indicating a large and established occupation. Projected employment growth of 5.6% points to continued expansion over the projection period. In addition, the occupation is expected to offer around 76,000 annual openings nationwide. These openings reflect a combination of new positions and turnover as existing workers change jobs, retire, or leave the field. The combination of a sizable current workforce with ongoing openings suggests consistent hiring activity across the country. States such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all share the same projected growth rate of 5.6%, indicating a similar growth outlook in these leading locations. Major metro areas like San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, New York-Newark-Jersey City, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton also reflect the same 5.6% projected growth, underscoring steady prospects across a variety of urban labor markets.
Location can significantly shape the experience of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists. Among states, California has the highest employment level listed, with 27,080 workers, followed by New York at 20,740. Massachusetts (9,600), Washington (6,930), and Colorado (6,820) also support notable employment bases. All of these states share a projected growth rate of 5.6%, but their median salaries differ: Washington leads at $59,510, while California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New York cluster between $35,760 and $38,660. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City has the largest employment count at 27,660, followed by Boston-Cambridge-Newton at 7,870 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria at 7,010, offering large urban job markets. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont show higher median salaries of $43,410 and $42,400, respectively. San Jose and New York metros also post especially high opportunity scores above 77, indicating particularly strong overall conditions in those areas compared with other listed metros.
The typical education for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is a postsecondary nondegree award. This means most people enter the field by completing education or training beyond high school without earning a traditional college degree. Success in this occupation is closely tied to a distinct skill profile. Customer service and interpersonal skills are central for working directly with clients. Fine motor skills and physical strength and stamina are important for performing detailed, hands-on tasks over the course of a workday. Creativity and innovation contribute to meeting client preferences and style requests, while adaptability helps professionals respond to changing trends and client needs. Strong speaking and listening skills support clear communication, and problem solving and decision making assist in handling day-to-day challenges. Science and mechanical skills also play a role in the overall skill set. This combination of training and skills supports entry and advancement within this personal care career path.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
