Hairdresser ​/ Cosmetologist

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Hairdresser / Cosmetologist

O
* NET-SOC: 39-5012.00

Hospitality

Provides hair care services including cutting, coloring, styling, and chemical treatments, and may also offer skin care and nail services, consulting with clients on styles that suit their features and preferences.

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$35K

Median Salary

+8%

Growing

High School Diploma

Min. Education

Moderate Balance

Work-Life Balance

Hairdressers and cosmetologists help clients look and feel their best by cutting, colouring, and styling hair, and sometimes offering additional services like manicures, facials, or makeup. A typical day begins with setting up a clean workstation, mixing colour formulas, and reviewing the appointment book, then moves into a steady stream of clients. Each appointment starts with a consultation - asking what the client wants, assessing hair type and condition, and recommending a realistic approach - before moving to the actual cut, colour, or styling work.

9:00 AM

Station setup and prep

Sanitise tools, wipe down the chair and mirror, mix colour formulas for the first appointments, and review the day's schedule.

9:30 AM

First client consultation and cut

Discuss what the client wants, assess their hair type, then section and cut to the agreed style before blow-drying and finishing.

11:00 AM

Colour appointment

Apply highlights or all-over colour, set a processing timer, and check in periodically until the colour has developed to the right shade.

1:00 PM

Lunch and quick tidy

Take a break, eat, then rinse out a client's colour, apply a toner if needed, and style the finished look.

2:00 PM

Styling or chemical service

Work on a perm, straightening treatment, or detailed updo, adjusting technique based on the client's hair texture and desired result.

4:00 PM

Product recommendations and booking

Suggest take-home products suited to the client's hair, ring up sales, and book their next appointment.

5:30 PM

Final appointments

Finish the last scheduled cuts or blow-dry styles of the day, making sure each client is happy before they leave.

7:30 PM

Cleanup and close

Sweep the floor, sanitise all tools, restock supplies, and confirm the next day's bookings before locking up.

• Operating Systems
• iOS

• Web & Social Media
• Facebook

• Accounting
• Quick Books

• Spreadsheets
• Microsoft Excel

• Office Suites
• Microsoft Office

• Word Processing
• Microsoft Word

Salary Details

Salary Distribution

Salary distribution for Hairdresser / Cosmetologist: 10th percentile $25K, 25th $29K, median $35K, 75th $48K, 90th $70K Median $25K $29K $35K $48K $70K

Most professionals earn between $29K and $48K

Hairdresser / Cosmetologist salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $25K 25th $29K 50th (Median) $35K 75th $48K 90th $70K

Salary by State

Hairdresser / Cosmetologist salary by state map

Hairdresser / Cosmetologist salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range Washington $59K $37K - $105K Hawaii $52K $29K - $79K Vermont $50K $37K - $78K South Dakota $49K $33K - $62K Maine $48K $31K - $74K District of Columbia $48K $35K - $98K Massachusetts $48K $32K - $71K Alaska $45K $24K - $78K New Jersey $44K $31K - $101K Colorado $44K $32K - $94K Minnesota $43K $25K - $63K New Hampshire $42K $23K - $56K California $39K $35K - $75K Nebraska $39K $25K - $60K Montana $38K $22K - $80K Iowa $38K $23K - $68K Virginia $38K $26K - $89K Connecticut $37K $33K - $72K Wisconsin $37K $23K - $55K Maryland $36K $31K - $62K North Carolina $36K $24K - $62K Oregon $36K $30K - $76K Michigan $36K $24K - $70K Arizona $35K $30K - $56K Utah $35K $22K - $75K Illinois $35K $29K - $63K Kansas $35K $16K - $70K New York $34K $31K - $73K North Dakota $34K $23K - $78K Idaho $34K $18K - $37K Wyoming $32K $18K - $62K Kentucky $32K $21K - $97K Indiana $31K $23K - $56K West Virginia $31K $23K - $58K Delaware $31K $28K - $87K Georgia $31K $21K - $79K Oklahoma $31K $20K - $50K Rhode Island $31K $29K - $62K Missouri $30K $27K - $73K Florida $30K $25K - $61K Nevada $30K $24K - $59K Pennsylvania $30K $20K - $62K Alabama $30K $16K - $50K Ohio $29K $23K - $61K Tennessee $29K $22K - $72K South Carolina $29K $19K - $61K Texas $28K $22K - $62K Mississippi $28K $17K - $63K New Mexico $28K $26K - $62K Arkansas $26K $23K - $35K Louisiana $23K $18K - $47K

Hairdresser / Cosmetologist salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range Washington $59K $37K - $105K Hawaii $52K $29K - $79K Vermont $50K $37K - $78K South Dakota $49K $33K - $62K Maine $48K $31K - $74K District of Columbia $48K $35K - $98K Massachusetts $48K $32K - $71K Alaska $45K $24K - $78K New Jersey $44K $31K - $101K Colorado $44K $32K - $94K Minnesota $43K $25K - $63K New Hampshire $42K $23K - $56K California $39K $35K - $75K Nebraska $39K $25K - $60K Montana $38K $22K - $80K Iowa $38K $23K - $68K Virginia $38K $26K - $89K Connecticut $37K $33K - $72K Wisconsin $37K $23K - $55K Maryland $36K $31K - $62K North Carolina $36K $24K - $62K Oregon $36K $30K - $76K Michigan $36K $24K - $70K Arizona $35K $30K -…