Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Personal Care and Service · SOC 39-5012 · O*NET 39-5012.00
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.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists fall under the Personal Care and Service category in the U.S. occupational classification. Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn a median salary of $35,790 per year, ranking in the top 96% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +7.7% job growth through 2035, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn?
The median annual wage for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is $35,790. That puts hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists at #790 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $27,040 |
| 25th percentile | $30,120 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $35,790 |
| 75th percentile | $48,830 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,190 |
| Median hourly wage | $17.21/hr |
Is hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is +7.7%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 595K positions in 2024 to 640K in 2034, a net change of 45K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
- 2.Comb, brush, and spray hair or wigs to set style.
- 3.Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
- 4.Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.
- 5.Order, display, and maintain supplies.
- 6.Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
- 7.Apply water or setting, straightening or waving solutions to hair, and use curlers, rollers, hot combs and curling irons to press and curl hair.
- 8.Shave, trim, and shape beards and moustaches.
Top skills for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologist?
Many hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
What is the median salary for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The median annual salary for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is $35,790 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists a growing career?
BLS projects +7.7% growth for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists from 2025 through 2035, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologist?
The typical entry path requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Related occupations within the Personal Care and Service category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 release.