SOC 39-5012.00Bright outlook

    Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

    Provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp.

    Median pay
    $35,790
    Growth
    +7.7%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    73,400
    Typical education
    Postsecondary certificate

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $27,040
    Median
    $35,790
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $71,190
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    305,710 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists provide a variety of beauty services, including cutting, coloring, and styling hair. The median annual pay for these professionals is $35,790, with opportunities for career growth in a faster-than-average job market.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

    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.

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    Professionals in this field spend their days working directly with the public to deliver personalized beauty services. They cut, color, style, and shampoo hair, and they may also offer scalp treatments, makeup application, wig dressing, nail care, and skincare services. Success in this role relies heavily on strong active listening and speaking skills to understand what clients want, combined with a service-oriented approach to make clients feel comfortable.

    Because this is a highly social and realistic occupation, workers must focus on establishing and maintaining positive interpersonal relationships. They use creativity to design new looks and apply critical thinking to solve hair and beauty challenges. Day-to-day tasks also involve selling beauty products and keeping up with the latest industry trends and techniques. Key work styles for these specialists include dependability, empathy, cooperation, and a strong attention to detail. They must also understand public safety, sanitation, and basic chemistry to safely apply hair dyes and chemical treatments.

    How to get there

    To enter this career, individuals typically earn a postsecondary certificate. The preparation level is classified as medium, which often involves vocational training, an associate degree, or related hands-on experience. The most common college major leading to this profession is cosmetology and related personal grooming services.

    Depending on the location, some states list a license for this work. Additionally, professionals can pursue specialized certifications to enhance their credentials. Examples of these certifications include the Certified Aesthetic Laser Operator credential from the National Council on Laser Certification, as well as the Cosmetology for Career-Technical Education certification, which focuses on safety and pollution prevention.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists was $35,790. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience and location; the lowest 10% of workers earn less than $27,040, while the highest 10% earn more than $71,190.

    With 305,710 people employed in this field, the occupation is projected to grow by 7.7% from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with normal turnover, is expected to result in approximately 73,400 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    73 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    9 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    37 / 100
    Social (S)
    45 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    38 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    49 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCS. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
    82
    Selling or Influencing Others
    75
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    75
    Assisting and Caring for Others
    73
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    73
    Thinking Creatively
    71
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    70
    Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
    66
    Getting Information
    65
    Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    64
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Speaking
    • Service Orientation
    • Critical Thinking
    • Active Learning
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Monitoring
    • Reading Comprehension

    Knowledge

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Sales and Marketing
    • English Language
    • Administration and Management
    • Education and Training
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Sociology and Anthropology
    • Administrative
    • Chemistry
    • Personnel and Human Resources

    Abilities

    • Near Vision
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Finger Dexterity
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Originality
    • Speech Recognition
    • Visualization
    • Fluency of Ideas

    Work styles

    • Social Orientation
    • Dependability
    • Cooperation
    • Attention to Detail
    • Optimism
    • Empathy
    • Sincerity
    • Innovation
    • Self-Control
    • Self-Confidence

    Also called

    Beautician · Beauty Advisor · Beauty Operator · Beauty Specialist · Beauty Therapist · Colorist · Cosmetic Consultant · Cosmetician · Cosmetologist · Event Stylist

    Career pathway

    From your interests to hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$35,790 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Clover Park Technical College logo
      Clover Park Technical College

      Lakewood, WA · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $31,122
      4 yrs after
      $33,290
      Median debt
      Not reported
    2. 2Douglas Education Center logo
      Douglas Education Center

      Monessen, PA · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $24,344
      4 yrs after
      $32,245
      Median debt
      $12,000
    3. 3Central New Mexico Community College logo
      Central New Mexico Community College

      Albuquerque, NM · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $22,359
      4 yrs after
      $27,398
      Median debt
      Not reported
    4. 4Central Piedmont Community College logo
      Central Piedmont Community College

      Charlotte, NC · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $24,015
      4 yrs after
      $26,550
      Median debt
      Not reported
    5. 5Bevill State Community College logo
      Bevill State Community College

      Jasper, AL · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $23,086
      Median debt
      Not reported
    6. 6
      Coahoma Community College

      Clarksdale, MS · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $22,918
      Median debt
      Not reported
    7. 7Houston Community College logo
      Houston Community College

      Houston, TX · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $24,421
      4 yrs after
      $22,631
      Median debt
      $18,626
    8. 8Gadsden State Community College logo
      Gadsden State Community College

      Gadsden, AL · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $15,398
      4 yrs after
      $18,504
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other
    • Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor
    • Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General
    • Electrolysis/Electrology and Electrolysis Technician
    • Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design
    • Make-Up Artist/Specialist
    • Permanent Cosmetics/Makeup and Tattooing
    • Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    53 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this profession?

    People in this line of work are known by many names. Common titles include beautician, beauty advisor, cosmetologist, colorist, cosmetic consultant, and event stylist.

    What is the job outlook for cosmetologists and hairstylists?

    The field is expanding faster than average, with a projected employment change of 7.7% between 2025 and 2035. This growth is expected to generate about 73,400 job openings annually.

    What are some similar careers in the beauty and service industry?

    Related career paths include barbers, skincare specialists, shampooers, makeup artists, and manicurists and pedicurists. Some skills also overlap with occupations like tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.