Best cities for a hairstylist/cosmetologist
The best cities for hairstylist/cosmetologists are Fort Wayne, IN, Indianapolis, IN, and Winston-Salem, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for hairstylist/cosmetologists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for hairstylist/cosmetologists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a hairstylist/cosmetologist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for hairstylist/cosmetologists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for hairstylist/cosmetologists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a hairstylist/cosmetologist. While the absolute best city for hairstylist/cosmetologists is Fort Wayne, IN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for hairstylist/cosmetologists in 2024.
If you're looking for a hairstylist/cosmetologist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for hairstylist/cosmetologists in 2025
1. Fort Wayne, IN
Total hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $38,335 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location quotient: 2.11 2. Indianapolis, IN
Total hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $37,983 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location quotient: 0.94 3. Winston-Salem, NC
Total hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $37,816 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location quotient: 2.53 4. Durham, NC
Total hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $37,732 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location quotient: 2.26 5. Milwaukee, WI
Total hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $41,506 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 1.25 6. Toledo, OH
Total hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $37,439 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Newark, NJ
Total hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $42,013 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 2.11 8. Omaha, NE
Total hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $39,964 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Columbus, OH
Total hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $36,901 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location quotient: 1.10 10. Lincoln, NE
Total hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $39,827 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for hairstylist/cosmetologists
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Indianapolis, IN
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Durham, NC
- Milwaukee, WI
- Toledo, OH
- Newark, NJ
- Omaha, NE
- Columbus, OH
- Lincoln, NE
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Detailed list of the best cities for a hairstylist/cosmetologist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Wayne, IN | $38,335 | $27,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 2 | Indianapolis, IN | $37,983 | $27,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 3 | Winston-Salem, NC | $37,816 | $26,000 | 242,203 | 1 |
| 4 | Durham, NC | $37,732 | $26,000 | 263,016 | 3 |
| 5 | Milwaukee, WI | $41,506 | $30,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $37,439 | $27,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $42,013 | $29,000 | 281,764 | 2 |
| 8 | Omaha, NE | $39,964 | $29,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $36,901 | $26,000 | 860,090 | 4 |
| 10 | Lincoln, NE | $39,827 | $29,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $38,128 | $27,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $36,343 | $25,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | $52,017 | $41,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $38,085 | $27,000 | 481,420 | 1 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,725 | $34,000 | 413,651 | 1 |
| 16 | Aurora, CO | $39,577 | $29,000 | 361,710 | 5 |
| 17 | Saint Paul, MN | $44,703 | $34,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $37,187 | $26,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 19 | Madison, WI | $41,587 | $31,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 20 | Cincinnati, OH | $36,747 | $26,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 21 | Saint Louis, MO | $37,807 | $27,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 22 | Pittsburgh, PA | $37,216 | $26,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 23 | Greensboro, NC | $37,788 | $26,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 24 | Boston, MA | $41,782 | $29,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 25 | Charlotte, NC | $37,782 | $26,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 26 | Raleigh, NC | $37,707 | $26,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 27 | Jersey City, NJ | $41,979 | $29,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 28 | Anchorage, AK | $41,949 | $38,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 29 | Virginia Beach, VA | $39,963 | $27,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 30 | Chicago, IL | $38,609 | $28,000 | 2,704,958 | 6 |
| 31 | Portland, OR | $39,282 | $30,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 32 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $35,641 | $25,000 | 260,999 | 1 |
| 33 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,015 | $25,000 | 880,619 | 3 |
| 34 | Baltimore, MD | $41,059 | $28,000 | 614,664 | 4 |
| 35 | Nashville, TN | $34,154 | $24,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 36 | Lexington, KY | $31,234 | $22,000 | 318,449 | 1 |
| 37 | New York, NY | $38,935 | $27,000 | 8,537,673 | 28 |
| 38 | Tucson, AZ | $36,491 | $25,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 39 | Memphis, TN | $34,046 | $24,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 40 | Denver, CO | $39,595 | $29,000 | 693,060 | - |
| 41 | Santa Ana, CA | $39,525 | $27,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 42 | Colorado Springs, CO | $39,269 | $28,000 | 465,101 | 2 |
| 43 | Scottsdale, AZ | $36,489 | $25,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 44 | Glendale, AZ | $36,489 | $25,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 45 | Norfolk, VA | $39,989 | $28,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 46 | Chesapeake, VA | $39,982 | $28,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 47 | Phoenix, AZ | $36,488 | $25,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 48 | Los Angeles, CA | $39,560 | $27,000 | 3,976,322 | 16 |
| 49 | Chandler, AZ | $36,478 | $25,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 50 | Gilbert, AZ | $36,477 | $25,000 | 237,133 | - |
Highest paying cities for hairstylist/cosmetologists
| Rank | City | Avg. hairstylist/cosmetologist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $40,565 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $39,002 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $38,935 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $38,609 |
| 5 | Carrollton, TX | $31,604 |