Hairdresser / Cosmetologist

Explore Careers Hairdresser / Cosmetologist O*NET-SOC: 39-5012.00 Hospitality Provides hair care services including cutting, coloring, styling, and chemical treatments, and may also offer skin care and nail services, consulting with clients on styles that suit their features and preferences. See your fit Take the quiz to see how you match Take the Quiz $35K Median Salary +8% Growing High School Diploma Min. Education Moderate Balance Work-Life Balance About This Role 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. 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. Tools & Technologies Operating SystemsiOSWeb & Social MediaFacebookAccountingQuickBooksSpreadsheetsMicrosoft ExcelOffice SuitesMicrosoft OfficeWord ProcessingMicrosoft Word Salary Details Salary Distribution Salary distribution for Hairdresser / Cosmetologist: 10th percentile $25K, 25th $29K, median $35K, 75th $48K, 90th $70K Median $25K $29K $35K $48K $70K Most professionals earn between $29K and $48K Hairdresser / Cosmetologist salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $25K 25th $29K 50th (Median) $35K 75th $48K 90th $70K Salary by State Hairdresser / Cosmetologist salary by state map Hairdresser / Cosmetologist salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range Washington $59K $37K - $105K Hawaii $52K $29K - $79K Vermont $50K $37K - $78K South Dakota $49K $33K - $62K Maine $48K $31K - $74K District of Columbia $48K $35K - $98K Massachusetts $48K $32K - $71K Alaska $45K $24K - $78K New Jersey $44K $31K - $101K Colorado $44K $32K - $94K Minnesota $43K $25K - $63K New Hampshire $42K $23K - $56K California $39K $35K - $75K Nebraska $39K $25K - $60K Montana $38K $22K - $80K Iowa $38K $23K - $68K Virginia $38K $26K - $89K Connecticut $37K $33K - $72K Wisconsin $37K $23K - $55K Maryland $36K $31K - $62K North Carolina $36K $24K - $62K Oregon $36K $30K - $76K Michigan $36K $24K - $70K Arizona $35K $30K - $56K Utah $35K $22K - $75K Illinois $35K $29K - $63K Kansas $35K $16K - $70K New York $34K $31K - $73K North Dakota $34K $23K - $78K Idaho $34K $18K - $37K Wyoming $32K $18K - $62K Kentucky $32K $21K - $97K Indiana $31K $23K - $56K West Virginia $31K $23K - $58K Delaware $31K $28K - $87K Georgia $31K $21K - $79K Oklahoma $31K $20K - $50K Rhode Island $31K $29K - $62K Missouri $30K $27K - $73K Florida $30K $25K - $61K Nevada $30K $24K - $59K Pennsylvania $30K $20K - $62K Alabama $30K $16K - $50K Ohio $29K $23K - $61K Tennessee $29K $22K - $72K South Carolina $29K $19K - $61K Texas $28K $22K - $62K Mississippi $28K $17K - $63K New Mexico $28K $26K - $62K Arkansas $26K $23K - $35K Louisiana $23K $18K - $47K Hairdresser / Cosmetologist salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range Washington $59K $37K - $105K Hawaii $52K $29K - $79K Vermont $50K $37K - $78K South Dakota $49K $33K - $62K Maine $48K $31K - $74K District of Columbia $48K $35K - $98K Massachusetts $48K $32K - $71K Alaska $45K $24K - $78K New Jersey $44K $31K - $101K Colorado $44K $32K - $94K Minnesota $43K $25K - $63K New Hampshire $42K $23K - $56K California $39K $35K - $75K Nebraska $39K $25K - $60K Montana $38K $22K - $80K Iowa $38K $23K - $68K Virginia $38K $26K - $89K Connecticut $37K $33K - $72K Wisconsin $37K $23K - $55K Maryland $36K $31K - $62K North Carolina $36K $24K - $62K Oregon $36K $30K - $76K Michigan $36K $24K - $70K Arizona $35K $30K - $56K Utah $35K $22K - $75K Illinois $35K $29K - $63K Kansas $35K $16K - $70K New York $34K $31K - $73K North Dakota $34K $23K - $78K Idaho $34K $18K - $37K Wyoming $32K $18K - $62K Kentucky $32K $21K - $97K Indiana $31K $23K - $56K West Virginia $31K $23K - $58K Delaware $31K $28K - $87K Georgia $31K $21K - $79K Oklahoma $31K $20K - $50K Rhode Island $31K $29K - $62K Missouri $30K $27K - $73K Florida $30K $25K - $61K Nevada $30K $24K - $59K Pennsylvania $30K $20K - $62K Alabama $30K $16K - $50K Ohio $29K $23K - $61K Tennessee $29K $22K - $72K South Carolina $29K $19K - $61K Texas $28K $22K - $62K Mississippi $28K $17K - $63K New Mexico $28K $26K - $62K Arkansas $26K $23K - $35K Louisiana $23K $18K - $47K Lower ($23K-$41K)Middle (~$41K)Higher ($41K-$59K) Highest Paying States 1.Washington$59K2.Hawaii$52K3.Vermont$50K4.South Dakota$49K5.Maine$48K Lowest Paying States 1.Louisiana$23K2.Arkansas$26K3.New Mexico$28K4.Mississippi$28K5.Texas$28K Certifications, Training & Memberships Essential Cosmetology License State Board of Cosmetology Certification Requires 1,500 hours training plus exams on safety, cutting, coloring; mandatory for practice. Helpful Nail Technician Certification State Board Certification Adds manicure/pedicure services to cosmetology scope. Professional Memberships Professional Beauty Association Membership Professional Beauty Association Membership Offers business tools, education for salon pros. Work Environment Remote Work On-site Only Work Setting Traditional office / indoor Physical Activity Physically active — significant time on your feet Social Interaction Highly collaborative — frequent team interaction Schedule Extended hours common Your Skills & Attributes Skills & Competencies Matches (41) Learning Strategies Moderate Match Persuasion Moderate Match Instructing Moderate Match Negotiation Partial Match Operations Analysis Partial Match Frequently Asked Questions Is Hairdresser / Cosmetologist a good career? Hairdresser / Cosmetologist can be a rewarding career choice. Based on current data, the median salary is $35K and job outlook is growing (8% projected growth). Whether it's a good fit depends on your skills, interests, and values — take our quiz to find out how well you match. What degree do you need to become a Hairdresser / Cosmetologist? The typical education requirement for a Hairdresser / Cosmetologist is a High School Diploma. However, requirements can vary by employer and specialization. Some professionals enter the field with alternative credentials or relevant work experience. How long does it take to become a Hairdresser / Cosmetologist? Becoming a Hairdresser / Cosmetologist typically requires about 4 years of high school education. Additional time may be needed for certifications, internships, or on-the-job training depending on the specific role and employer requirements. What is the work-life balance like for a Hairdresser / Cosmetologist? The work-life balance for a Hairdresser / Cosmetologist is moderate, with some periods requiring extended hours or flexibility. Individual experiences vary based on employer, specialization, seniority level, and geographic location. What is the job outlook for Hairdresser / Cosmetologist? The job outlook for Hairdresser / Cosmetologist is growing. Employment is projected to grow by 8% over the coming decade. Labor market conditions can vary by region and specialization. Find Hairdresser / Cosmetologist Jobs Google Jobs (opens in new tab) Aggregated listings from across the web Search Hairdresser / Cosmetologist jobs Indeed (opens in new tab) One of the largest job search engines Search Hairdresser / Cosmetologist jobs LinkedIn (opens in new tab) Professional network job listings Search Hairdresser / Cosmetologist jobs Related Careers Use arrow keys or swipe to scroll through related career cards Hospitality Chef / Head Cook Directs and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. 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