Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Also called: Beautician, Beauty Advisor, Beauty Operator, Beauty Specialist, Beauty Therapist, Colorist, Cosmetic Consultant, Cosmetician
Provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp.
What hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists do
Typical tasks
- Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
- Schedule client appointments.
- Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
- Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
- Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
- Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
- Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
- Massage and treat scalp for hygienic and remedial purposes, using hands, fingers, or vibrating equipment.
- Apply water or setting, straightening or waving solutions to hair, and use curlers, rollers, hot combs and curling irons to press and curl hair.
- Shave, trim, and shape beards and moustaches.
- Comb, brush, and spray hair or wigs to set style.
- Develop new styles and techniques.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary
The median annual wage for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is $35,790 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $27,040 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $71,190. The mean annual wage is $43,960.
The mean hourly wage of $21.00 is 2.9× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $35,790 → in 3 years $39,700 → in 5 years $42,500 → in 10 years $50,400 (10-year range $43,400–$58,500). The model assumes pay growth of +3.5% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists United States | 美容師 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $35,790 | ¥3.89M ≈ $24,707 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $50,400 | ¥5.32M |
| Outlook score | 69 | 57 |
| AI replacement risk | 10% Very low | 14% Very low |
| Workers | 306K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 3 — medium preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.