Salaries › Hairstylist

Hairstylist Salary by State (2026)

Hairstylists (Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists) hold 305,710 jobs across the US. Typical pay is $35,652 per year, but the median ranges from $26,030 in Louisiana to $59,510 in Washington. Pick your state for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.

Median Hairstylist salary in every state

StateMedian salaryJobs
Washington $59,510 6,930
Oregon $57,580 1,860
District of Columbia $54,570 870
South Dakota $49,800 690
Vermont $48,650 440
Connecticut $44,620 4,090
Maine $44,000 970
Minnesota $39,170 5,320
California $38,660 27,080
North Carolina $38,410 8,490
Montana $38,000 690
New Mexico $37,750 1,230
Colorado $37,690 6,820
Massachusetts $37,290 9,600
Arizona $36,810 7,840
Pennsylvania $36,790 19,350
Maryland $36,420 5,860
Ohio $36,260 12,890
Wisconsin $36,230 6,260
New Jersey $36,150 15,500
New York $35,760 20,740
Iowa $35,700 2,930
Idaho $35,480 2,250
Utah $35,140 2,810
Hawaii $35,040 930
North Dakota $34,850 870
Michigan $34,820 8,970
New Hampshire $34,650 1,950
Georgia $34,560 7,910
West Virginia $34,480 1,020
Delaware $34,350 1,270
Nebraska $34,320 1,890
Illinois $34,040 13,190
Nevada $33,840 1,940
South Carolina $33,700 3,570
Indiana $32,830 5,920
Alaska $32,150 330
Tennessee $31,310 6,080
Rhode Island $31,200 1,470
Missouri $30,750 5,430
Texas $30,680 22,440
Kentucky $29,840 2,350
Kansas $29,710 2,190
Oklahoma $29,650 1,920
Florida $29,530 23,530
Wyoming $29,170 360
Alabama $29,150 3,300
Arkansas $28,830 1,410
Mississippi $27,560 1,040
Louisiana $26,030 2,720
Virginia 10,200

Frequently asked questions

What is the average Hairstylist salary in the US?
The typical (employment-weighted median) Hairstylist salary in the US is about $35,652 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 305,710 jobs nationwide.
Which state pays Hairstylists the most?
Washington has the highest median Hairstylist salary at $59,510 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
Which state pays Hairstylists the least?
Louisiana has the lowest median at $26,030 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.

Sources and methodology

All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, code 39-5012). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.