Occupations · Personal Care and Service
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. May shampoo hair, apply makeup, dress wigs, remove hair, and provide nail and skincare services.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 39-5012.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 89% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $36,390 | 26,620 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $35,560 | 12,720 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $33,790 | 9,860 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $47,800 | 7,420 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $42,730 | 7,360 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $28,920 | 6,730 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $43,610 | 6,720 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $35,220 | 6,330 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $28,930 | 5,470 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $30,850 | 5,160 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $36,330 | 5,120 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $33,620 | 5,050 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: Postsecondary nondegree award · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
- Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
- Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
- Schedule client appointments.
- Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
- Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.
- Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
- Train or supervise other hairstylists, hairdressers, and assistants.
- Massage and treat scalp for hygienic and remedial purposes, using hands, fingers, or vibrating equipment.
- Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
- Operate cash registers to receive payments from patrons.
- Administer therapeutic medication and advise patron to seek medical treatment for chronic or contagious scalp conditions.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2016-07
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2016-07
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
Tasks O*NET flags as emerging
- Order, display, and maintain supplies.
O*NET 20.3 emerging tasks
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 3
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| wig and hairpiece maker | 7531.6 | close |
| pedicurist | 5142.8 | broader |
| hairdresser | 5141.1 | broader |
| hair removal technician | 5142.3 | broader |
| manicurist | 5142.6 | broader |
| aesthetician | 5142.1 | broader |
| performance hairdresser | 5141.1.4 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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