Hairstylist salary

The median pay for a hairstylist nationally is $14.84 an hour — about $30,870 a year full time. That figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for U.S. (2025). Half of the roles pay more than this and half pay less, so treat it as the middle of the market rather than a target.

Most hairstylists nationally earn between $11.49 an hour and $21.32 an hour — that is the 10th to the 90th percentile. The spread usually reflects experience, shift, certifications and employer size more than anything else.

Pay at the bottom of the range — roughly what someone starting out can expect — is around $11.49 an hour. A quarter of hairstylists earn below $13.08 an hour, so the first year or two typically sits in that band.

The top 10% of hairstylists nationally earn about $21.32 an hour or more, roughly 1.4× the median. Getting there usually means experience plus something specific — advanced certification, supervisory responsibility, or specialising in higher-paying work.

Hairstylists, barbers and cosmetologists cut, colour and style hair. Licensed work where earnings depend heavily on clientele, tips and whether you rent a chair. Day to day, that means cut, colour and style hair, consult with clients on what will suit them, apply chemical treatments safely and maintain tools, station and sanitation standards.

The usual route is: (1) complete a state-approved programme, (2) pass the state board exam and get licensed, (3) start in a salon to build a clientele, (4) move to commission, then chair rental or your own salon. Employers typically look for state-approved cosmetology or barbering programme (typically 9–15 months), state board examination and licence and licence renewal with continuing education.

Yes. Working as a hairstylist requires formal certification or licensing — specifically state board examination and licence and licence renewal with continuing education. Requirements are set at state level in most cases, so check your own state's rules before committing to a programme.

Steady demand, but earnings vary enormously by clientele and business model. Advertised figures often understate what an established stylist with a full book earns.

Published medians understate it for established stylists, because much of the income is tips and commission, and many stylists are self-employed renting a chair. A new stylist building a book earns considerably less than the median; one with a full clientele can earn well above it. Ask about the pay model — hourly, commission, or chair rental — before comparing offers.