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Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $35,790 Median per year · $17.21/hr Most earn $27,040–$71,190

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
  • Order, display, and maintain supplies.
  • Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
  • Shape eyebrows and remove facial hair, using depilatory cream, tweezers, electrolysis or wax.
  • Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.
  • Schedule client appointments.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth; Numerous Job Openings

United States
8% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 73,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Self-employed (their own business)48.1%
  • Personal care services45.3%
  • General merchandise retailers2.9%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

Hairdressing is an entry-level career. You usually don't need work experience first, just a high school diploma (or GED) and a state-approved cosmetology certificate or apprenticeship, plus any state license your area requires. Training often takes somewhere from several months to about two years, depending on the program and your state.

  1. High school diploma or GED

    4 years (high school)

    A diploma is the usual starting requirement for cosmetology programs and gives you a base for further training.

  2. Cosmetology certificate or apprenticeship

    6 months to 2 years

    You learn cutting, coloring, styling, and sanitation hands-on, then take your state's licensing exam so you can legally work as a stylist.

  3. Hairdresser, Hairstylist, or Cosmetologist

    Ongoing

    You start work at a salon, building a client base and sharpening your skills, and you can keep learning new techniques over your career.

Where it can lead

  1. Salon Manager

    3-5 years of experience first

    You move from styling clients to running the salon's schedule, staff, inventory, and customer service, which takes strong organization and people skills.

  2. Spa Manager

    2-4 years of experience first

    You oversee a spa's services, staff, and budget, which usually requires experience in beauty services plus business and management skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take chemistry or biologyBasic science helps you understand hair structure, color chemistry, and skin care, which you'll use in cosmetology training.
  • Take family and consumer science or design classesCourses in design, art, or personal care, if your school offers them, build the eye for color and shape that stylists use every day.
  • Get a part-time job in customer serviceWorking in a retail store or café teaches you to talk with people, which is a big part of keeping clients coming back.
  • Ask to shadow a local salonSpending a few hours watching stylists at work shows you the daily routine and helps you decide if the career is a good fit.
  • Practice styling on willing friends and familyRegular practice with braids, updos, and cuts builds your hands-on skill before you enter a formal program.

In college

  • Enroll in a state-approved cosmetology programMany community colleges and vocational schools offer these programs, and completing one is the main route to the license you need.
  • Take business or marketing coursesKnowing how to market yourself and manage money helps if you plan to rent a chair or open your own salon someday.
  • Work a campus or retail jobCustomer-facing jobs build the communication and reliability that salon clients and employers look for.
  • Join a fashion, beauty, or design clubClubs connect you with people who share your interest and may point you to show, event, or styling opportunities.
  • Build a social media portfolio of your workPosting your styling work, with client permission, helps you attract clients and shows potential employers what you can do.

Tips for getting started

  • Check your state's cosmetology licensing board early. Requirements for training hours and exams differ by state, so you'll know exactly what to aim for.
  • Practice on mannequins, friends, or family (with permission) and keep photos of your work. A simple portfolio helps when you apply to programs or salons.
  • Ask local salons if you can shadow or help out on busy days. Seeing a real salon up close is one of the best ways to learn if this job fits you.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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