Hairdresser / Cosmetologist

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.

About the Role

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.

A Day in the Life

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Provide hair care services including cutting, coloring, styling, and chemical treatments.
• Consult with clients on styles that suit their features and preferences.
• Offer additional services such as skin care and nail services.
• Sanitize tools and maintain a clean workstation.
• Recommend and sell hair care products to clients.
• Book and manage client appointments.

Requirements

• State Board of Cosmetology Certification (requires 1,500 hours of training plus exams on safety, cutting, coloring; mandatory for practice).
• High School Diploma (minimum education requirement).

Qualifications

• Nail Technician Certification (helpful for adding manicure/pedicure services).
• Professional Memberships (e.g., Professional Beauty Association for business tools and education).

Skills

• Learning Strategies (Moderate Match)
• Persuasion (Moderate Match)
• Instructing (Moderate Match)
• Negotiation (Partial Match)
• Operations Analysis (Partial Match)

Tools & Technologies

• Operating Systems: iOS
• Web & Social Media: Facebook
• Accounting: QuickBooks
• Spreadsheets: Microsoft Excel
• Office Suites: Microsoft Office
• Word Processing: Microsoft Word

Pay

Median salary: $35,000 per year.

• 10th percentile: $25,000
• 25th percentile: $29,000
• 75th percentile: $48,000
• 90th percentile: $70,000

Most professionals earn between $29,000 and $48,000.

Salary by State

• Washington: $59,000 (Range: $37,000 - $105,000)
• Hawaii: $52,000 (Range: $29,000 - $79,000)
• Vermont: $50,000 (Range: $37,000 - $78,000)
• South Dakota: $49,000 (Range: $33,000 - $62,000)
• Maine: $48,000 (Range: $31,000 - $74,000)
• District of Columbia: $48,000 (Range: $35,000 - $98,000)
• Massachusetts: $48,000 (Range: $32,000 - $71,000)
• Alaska: $45,000 (Range: $24,000 - $78,000)
• New Jersey: $44,000 (Range: $31,000 - $101,000)
• Colorado: $44,000 (Range: $32,000 - $94,000)
• Minnesota: $43,000 (Range: $25,000 - $63,000)
• New Hampshire: $42,000 (Range: $23,000 - $56,000)
• California: $39,000 (Range: $35,000 - $75,000)
• Nebraska: $39,000 (Range: $25,000 - $60,000)
• Montana: $38,000 (Range: $22,000 - $80,000)
• Iowa: $38,000 (Range: $23,000 - $68,000)
• Virginia: $38,000 (Range: $26,000 - $89,000)
• Connecticut: $37,000 (Range: $33,000 - $72,000)
• Wisconsin: $37,000 (Range: $23,000 - $55,000)
• Maryland: $36,000 (Range: $31,000 - $62,000)
• North Carolina: $36,000 (Range: $24,000 - $62,000)
• Oregon: $36,000 (Range: $30,000 - $76,000)
• Michigan: $36,000 (Range: $24,000 - $70,000)
• Arizona: $35,000 (Range: $30,000 - $56,000)
• Utah: $35,000 (Range: $22,000 - $75,000)
• Illinois: $35,000 (Range: $29,000 - $63,000)
• Kansas: $35,000 (Range: $16,000 - $70,000)
• New York: $34,000 (Range: $31,000 - $73,000)
• North Dakota: $34,000 (Range: $23,000 - $78,000)
• Idaho: $34,000 (Range: $18,000 - $37,000)
• Wyoming: $32,000 (Range: $18,000 - $62,000)
• Kentucky: $32,000 (Range: $21,000 - $97,000)
• Indiana: $31,000 (Range: $23,000 - $56,000)
• West Virginia: $31,000 (Range: $23,000 - $58,000)
• Delaware: $31,000 (Range: $28,000 - $87,000)
• Georgia: $31,000 (Range: $21,000 - $79,000)
• Oklahoma: $31,000 (Range: $20,000 - $50,000)
• Rhode Island: $31,000 (Range: $29,000 - $62,000)
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