Personal Care and Service · Career brief

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$35,790

Lower national median pay

2025 national median. Bottom quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

7.7%

Steady projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top quarter for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

73,400

Exceptional hiring volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Top 10% for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

Certificate / award

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

Postsecondary nondegree award. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

ChooseField take

The strongest national signals are growth and opening volume; each ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a certificate or nondegree award. Main tradeoff: Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

Before choosing, compare:Manicurists and Pedicurists Barbers Shampooers

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists with another field Explore rankings in Personal Care and Service Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$35,790

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

7.7%employment growth73,400openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Postsecondary nondegree award

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

595,000

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (39-5012).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
Schedule client appointments.
Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.
The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.
The helping mission includes documentation, direct care, and safety-critical routines where a missed detail can affect a patient.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.3
Selling or Influencing Others4.0
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.0
Assisting and Caring for Others3.9
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge3.9

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic5.4
Conventional3.9
Social3.7
Enterprising3.3
Artistic3.2
Investigative1.5

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Sales and Marketing Chemistry Economics and Accounting

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Volunteer in a structured, supervised role long enough to learn whether sustained responsibility for other people's needs feels meaningful or draining.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options

Compare before committing

The useful question is not whether one field wins overall, but what changes when you choose a nearby path. Explore the full career guides for Manicurists and Pedicurists, Barbers, Shampooers, Animal Trainers.