In the US, hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists earned a median of $17.21 per hour in May 2025, and barbers earned $18.37, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The combined median for the group was $35,880 per year. Your own income depends on clients per day, average ticket, tips and retail.
Hair stylist pay in the US: the latest data
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes pay for stylists and barbers in its Occupational Outlook Handbook. The latest figures, for May 2025:
| Occupation | Median hourly pay | Jobs (2025) | Self-employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $17.21 | 595,000 | 48% |
| Barbers | $18.37 | 75,800 | 80% |
| Combined | $17.25 ($35,880 / year) | 670,800 | — |
BLS projects employment for the group to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3% average for all occupations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Barbers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists” (page modified August 27, 2026).
Why the median doesn’t describe you
National medians blend part-timers and full-timers, assistants and senior stylists, employees and booth renters. Almost half of stylists and most barbers are self-employed, and their income doesn’t come from a wage — it comes from clients. Four numbers drive it:
- Clients per day — how full your book is.
- Average ticket — what each client pays for services.
- Tips — often a significant share of take-home pay.
- Retail — product sales, often overlooked.
Your income ≈ clients per week × (average ticket + average tip + average retail) − your costs.
How to work out your real income
You can’t improve a number you don’t know. The simplest method:
- Log every client for four weeks — service, tip and product amounts.
- Total each week and month. Note how many clients you saw.
- Divide to get average ticket, average tip and retail per client.
- Compare months to find seasonality and the effect of price changes.
Chairlog does steps 2–4 automatically: log clients on the Today screen, and Analytics shows totals and the services / tips / products split for any week, month or quarter. History shows clients and totals by month.
Ways stylists raise income (and how to measure them)
| Lever | What to watch in your numbers |
|---|---|
| Raise prices 5–10% | Average ticket goes up; client count should hold |
| Fill gaps in the book | Clients per day; empty days in History |
| Recommend retail | Product total per month |
| Rebook before clients leave | Steadier weekly totals |
| Set a goal | Progress vs. target each week (how to) |
Pay data in this article is US-only. For other countries, check your national statistics office.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median pay for hair stylists in the US?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists was $17.21 in May 2025. The combined median for barbers, hairstylists and cosmetologists was $35,880 per year.
Do BLS wage figures include tips?
BLS wage estimates from employer surveys generally include reported tips for employees but do not capture self-employed workers, and unreported tips are missing. Many stylists and most barbers are self-employed, so actual earnings vary widely.
How can I find out how much I really make as a stylist?
Record every client’s service price, tip and product sale for at least a month, then look at weekly and monthly totals. An income tracker like Chairlog does the totals and shows the split between services, tips and products.