Cosmetologist: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.
The work, the skills that matter, the tools in demand and the pay range, from U.S. government data, plus every TryHired page for the role.
10% of cosmetologists earn less than this amount.
- Annual
- $27,040
- Hourly
- n/a
- Source
- BLS May 2025
25% of cosmetologists earn less than this amount.
- Annual
- $30,120
- Hourly
- n/a
- Source
- BLS May 2025
Half of cosmetologists earn more than this and half earn less.
- Annual
- $35,790
- Hourly
- $17.21
- Source
- BLS May 2025
75% of cosmetologists earn less than this amount.
- Annual
- $48,830
- Hourly
- n/a
- Source
- BLS May 2025
90% of cosmetologists earn less than this amount.
- Annual
- $71,190
- Hourly
- n/a
- Source
- BLS May 2025
Cosmetologists provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. The median pay is $35,790 a year ($17.21 an hour) (BLS, May 2025).
- Median pay
- $35,790
- BLS May 2025
- Employed in the U.S.
- 305,710
- BLS May 2025
- Preparation
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- medium preparation
Data Government data groups this job as Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (O*NET-SOC 39-5012.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.
Every page for Cosmetologists
Pay by percentile, state and metro, with a negotiation script.
Open →ResumeCosmetologist resumeKeywords, bullet formulas and the skills to prove.
Open →Career changeCosmetologist career changeWhere these skills transfer, with skill match and pay change.
Open →Free toolCheck your resumeParsed text, evidence per bullet, fixes first.
Open →What cosmetologists do day to day
Data Core tasks rated most important by workers in the role (O*NET).
- Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
- Schedule client appointments.
- 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.
- Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
- Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
- Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
- Massage and treat scalp for hygienic and remedial purposes, using hands, fingers, or vibrating equipment.
Ranked by importance to the job
Data O*NET importance ratings. The first three are core.
Knowledge areas: Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing, English Language, Administration and Management, Education and Training.
Software cosmetologists use
Data Examples reported for the role; employer demand flags from O*NET.
- FacebookWeb page creation and editing softwareHot technology
- Sale processing softwarePoint of sale POS software
- YouTubeVideo creation and editing software
- Apple iOSOperating system softwareHot technology
- Intuit QuickBooksAccounting softwareHot technology
- Microsoft ExcelSpreadsheet softwareHot technology
- Microsoft Office softwareOffice suite softwareHot technology
- Microsoft WordWord processing softwareHot technology
- Appointment scheduling softwareCalendar and scheduling software
- Customer information databasesData base user interface and query software
Also called: Hair Stylist, Hairdresser, Hairstylist, Beautician, Beauty Specialist, Hair Artist, Hair Dresser.
Similar careers to explore
How this page is built
Tasks, skills, tools, education and related roles come from O*NET 31.0. Pay and employment come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates. The skill-match score is our calculation: Skill match is the correlation between the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level, subtract the average across all occupations, and correlate the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 or below means unrelated. Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared.
- How a specific employer defines the job.
- Pay for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
- Your own chances: data describes the occupation, not you.
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).