How much does a cosmetologist make? Cosmetologist salary and hourly pay
A cosmetologist in the US earns a median of $35,790 a year, about $17.21 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,040 and the top 10% earn over $71,190. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Washington, has a median of $59,510.
Cosmetologist pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a cosmetologist make an hour?
The median cosmetologist earns $17.21 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $13.00 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34.23 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| Lower 25% | $30,120 | $14.48 |
| Median (typical) | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Upper 25% | $48,830 | $23.48 |
| Top 10% | $71,190 | $34.23 |
Cosmetologist salary by state
Median annual pay for cosmetologists in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,150 | $14.01 |
| Alaska | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Arizona | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Arkansas | $28,830 | $13.86 |
| California | $38,660 | $18.59 |
| Colorado | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Connecticut | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| Delaware | $34,350 | $16.51 |
| District of Columbia | $54,570 | $26.24 |
| Florida | $29,530 | $14.20 |
| Georgia | $34,560 | $16.62 |
| Hawaii | $35,040 | $16.85 |
| Idaho | $35,480 | $17.06 |
| Illinois | $34,040 | $16.37 |
| Indiana | $32,830 | $15.78 |
| Iowa | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| Kansas | $29,710 | $14.28 |
| Kentucky | $29,840 | $14.35 |
| Louisiana | $26,030 | $12.51 |
| Maine | $44,000 | $21.15 |
| Maryland | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Massachusetts | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| Michigan | $34,820 | $16.74 |
| Minnesota | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| Mississippi | $27,560 | $13.25 |
| Missouri | $30,750 | $14.78 |
| Montana | $38,000 | $18.27 |
| Nebraska | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Nevada | $33,840 | $16.27 |
| New Hampshire | $34,650 | $16.66 |
| New Jersey | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| New Mexico | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| New York | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| North Carolina | $38,410 | $18.47 |
| North Dakota | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Ohio | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Oklahoma | $29,650 | $14.25 |
| Oregon | $57,580 | $27.68 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Rhode Island | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| South Carolina | $33,700 | $16.20 |
| South Dakota | $49,800 | $23.94 |
| Tennessee | $31,310 | $15.05 |
| Texas | $30,680 | $14.75 |
| Utah | $35,140 | $16.89 |
| Vermont | $48,650 | $23.39 |
| Virginia | Not published | – |
| Washington | $59,510 | $28.61 |
| West Virginia | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Wisconsin | $36,230 | $17.42 |
| Wyoming | $29,170 | $14.02 |
Highest-paying states for cosmetologists
- Washington: $59,510 median
- Oregon: $57,580 median
- District of Columbia: $54,570 median
- South Dakota: $49,800 median
- Vermont: $48,650 median
The lowest medians are in Louisiana ($26,030), Mississippi ($27,560), Arkansas ($28,830), Alabama ($29,150), Wyoming ($29,170). The most cosmetologist jobs are in California (27,080 jobs), Florida (23,530 jobs), Texas (22,440 jobs), New York (20,740 jobs), Pennsylvania (19,350 jobs).
How much does a cosmetologist make a month?
At the median salary of $35,790, a cosmetologist earns about $2,982 a month, $1,377 every two weeks or $688 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced cosmetologist pay
New cosmetologists typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,040 a year and the lowest 25% under $30,120. The top 25% earn over $48,830 and the top 10% over $71,190. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Cosmetologist salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Cosmetologist | $35,790 |
| Barber | $38,210 |
| Massage therapist | $58,450 |
| Personal trainer | $47,160 |
| Bartender | $34,340 |
Common questions
How much does a cosmetologist make?
The US median is $35,790 a year ($17.21 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a cosmetologist make an hour?
The median is about $17.21 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $13.00 and the top 10% about $34.23 an hour.
Which state pays cosmetologists the most?
Washington has the highest median at $59,510, followed by Oregon ($57,580) and District of Columbia ($54,570).
How much does a cosmetologist make a month?
At the US median of $35,790 a year, about $2,982 a month or $1,377 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level cosmetologist make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,040 a year and the lowest 25% under $30,120, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of cosmetologists make?
The top 10% earn over $71,190 a year; the top 25% earn over $48,830.
How much does a cosmetologist make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $38,660 in California, $30,680 in Texas, $29,530 in Florida, $35,760 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 39-5012, “Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. Note: BLS counts only employees, not self-employed cosmetologists or business owners, whose income can be quite different. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.