Hairstylist/cosmetologist demographics and statistics in the US
Hairstylist/cosmetologist demographics research summary. Zippia estimates hairstylist/cosmetologist demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our hairstylist/cosmetologist estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about hairstylist/cosmetologists after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 149,018 hairstylist/cosmetologists currently employed in the United States.
- 91.4% of all hairstylist/cosmetologists are women, while 8.6% are men.
- The average hairstylist/cosmetologist age is 40 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of hairstylist/cosmetologists is White (60.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (16.0%), Black or African American (11.6%) and Asian (7.0%).
- Hairstylist/cosmetologists are most in-demand in San Antonio, TX.
- The technology industry is the highest-paying for hairstylist/cosmetologists.
- San Francisco, CA pays an annual average wage of $40,565, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women hairstylist/cosmetologists earned 91% of what men earned.
- 12% of all hairstylist/cosmetologists are LGBT.
- West Virginia is the best state for hairstylist/cosmetologists to live.
- Hairstylist/cosmetologists are 84% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Hairstylist/cosmetologist demographics by:
Hairstylist/cosmetologist gender statistics
91.4% of hairstylist/cosmetologists are women and 8.6% of hairstylist/cosmetologists are men.
- Female, 91.4%
- Male, 8.6%
Hairstylist/cosmetologist gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 91.4% |
| Male | 8.6% |
Hairstylist/cosmetologist gender pay gap
Women earn 91¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$40,369
Female income
$36,917
Hairstylist/cosmetologist gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in hairstylist/cosmetologist positions over time. Currently, 91.4% of hairstylist/cosmetologists are female.
Hairstylist/cosmetologist gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 8.15% | 91.85% |
| 2011 | 8.94% | 91.06% |
| 2012 | 8.75% | 91.25% |
| 2013 | 9.11% | 90.89% |
| 2014 | 8.95% | 91.05% |
| 2015 | 8.96% | 91.04% |
| 2016 | 9.56% | 90.44% |
| 2017 | 8.89% | 91.11% |
| 2018 | 9.95% | 90.05% |
| 2019 | 10.47% | 89.53% |
| 2020 | 9.23% | 90.77% |
| 2021 | 8.64% | 91.36% |
Hairstylist/cosmetologist related jobs gender ratio
We compared hairstylist/cosmetologists with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, barber apprentice and master barber have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Electrologist | 1% | 99% |
| Medical Esthetician | 4% | 96% |
| Licensed Esthetician | 5% | 95% |
| Hairstylist/Cosmetologist | 9% | 91% |
| Barber | 75% | 25% |
| Master Barber | 78% | 22% |
| Barber Apprentice | 79% | 21% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Hairstylist/cosmetologist demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among hairstylist/cosmetologists is White, which makes up 60.6% of all hairstylist/cosmetologists. Comparatively, 16.0% of hairstylist/cosmetologists are Hispanic or Latino and 11.6% of hairstylist/cosmetologists are Black or African American.
- White, 60.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 16.0%
- Black or African American, 11.6%
- Asian, 7.0%
- Unknown, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Hairstylist/cosmetologist race
| Hairstylist/cosmetologist race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 60.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 16.0% |
| Black or African American | 11.6% |
| Asian | 7.0% |
| Unknown | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Hairstylist/cosmetologist race and ethnicity over time
See how hairstylist/cosmetologist racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Hairstylist/cosmetologist race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 67.03% | 12.08% | 5.40% | 13.40% |
| 2011 | 66.74% | 12.23% | 5.17% | 13.73% |
| 2012 | 65.70% | 12.53% | 5.24% | 14.55% |
| 2013 | 66.00% | 12.47% | 5.29% | 14.34% |
| 2014 | 65.93% | 12.32% | 5.02% | 14.33% |
| 2015 | 65.80% | 11.56% | 5.63% | 14.79% |
| 2016 | 64.67% | 11.67% | 5.99% | 15.25% |
| 2017 | 64.13% | 11.25% | 6.90% | 15.18% |
| 2018 | 65.34% | 11.33% | 6.19% | 14.82% |
| 2019 | 64.98% | 11.12% | 6.66% | 14.88% |
| 2020 | 62.35% | 10.86% | 6.59% | 15.77% |
| 2021 | 60.59% | 11.59% | 6.99% | 15.98% |
Hairstylist/cosmetologist wage gap by race
According to our data, white hairstylist/cosmetologists have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino hairstylist/cosmetologists have the lowest average salary at $38,821.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $41,023 |
| White | $42,120 |
| Black or African American | $39,631 |
| Asian | $40,330 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $38,821 |
Average hairstylist/cosmetologist age
See how the average age of hairstylist/cosmetologists varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Hairstylist/cosmetologist age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 42 | 40 |
| Unknown | 39 | |
| Asian | 44 | 46.5 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 43 | 37 |
| White | 41 | 38 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 42 |
Hairstylist/cosmetologist age breakdown
The average age of hairstylist/cosmetologists is 40+ years years old, representing 49% of the hairstylist/cosmetologist population.
Hairstylist/cosmetologist age breakdown
| Hairstylist/Cosmetologist Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 49% |
| 30-40 years | 29% |
| 20-30 years | 22% |
Hairstylist/cosmetologist educational attainment
The most common degree for hairstylist/cosmetologists is high school diploma, with 33% of hairstylist/cosmetologists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 25% and associate degree degree at 18%.
- High School Diploma, 33%
- Associate, 25%
- Diploma, 18%
- Bachelor's, 12%
- Other Degrees, 12%
Hairstylist/cosmetologists by degree level
| Hairstylist/cosmetologist degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 33% |
| Associate | 25% |
| Diploma | 18% |
| Bachelor's | 12% |
| Other Degrees | 12% |
Hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs you might like
Hairstylist/cosmetologist wage gap by degree level
According to the data, hairstylist/cosmetologists with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $43,640 annually. With a Associate degree, hairstylist/cosmetologists earn a median annual income of $40,909 compared to $38,515 for hairstylist/cosmetologists with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,515 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,640 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $40,909 |
Hairstylist/cosmetologist employment statistics
Most hairstylist/cosmetologists work for a private in the retail industry.
Company size where hairstylist/cosmetologists work
Below, you can see the size of companies where hairstylist/cosmetologists work.
Hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 10% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 30% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 23% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 13% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 18% |
| > 10,000 employees | 6% |
Hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs by company type
Employees with the hairstylist/cosmetologist job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most hairstylist/cosmetologists prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 6% |
| Public | 10% |
| Private | 84% |
Hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs by industry
The most common industries for hairstylist/cosmetologists are retail, professional and health care.
Hairstylist/cosmetologist industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Retail | 22% |
| Professional | 16% |
| Start-up | 7% |
| Health Care | 7% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Education | 6% |
| Media | 5% |
| Hospitality | 5% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Internet | 3% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
Hairstylist/cosmetologist turnover and employment statistics
Hairstylist/cosmetologist unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for hairstylist/cosmetologists between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Hairstylist/cosmetologist unemployment rate by year
| Year | Hairstylist/cosmetologist unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.68% |
| 2011 | 3.78% |
| 2012 | 4.14% |
| 2013 | 3.57% |
| 2014 | 3.48% |
| 2015 | 2.63% |
| 2016 | 2.46% |
| 2017 | 2.31% |
| 2018 | 2.10% |
| 2019 | 1.86% |
| 2020 | 5.43% |
| 2021 | 6.02% |
Average hairstylist/cosmetologist tenure
The average hairstylist/cosmetologist stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 4,767 hairstylist/cosmetologists resumes in Zippia's database.
Hairstylist/cosmetologist tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 20% |
| 1-2 years | 26% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 22% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 12% |
Hairstylist/cosmetologist LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of hairstylist/cosmetologists that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Nail Artist | 5.12% | 4,559 |
| Barber Apprentice | 8.10% | 7,786 |
| Esthetician | 8.70% | 3,747 |
| Hairstylist/Cosmetologist | 11.87% | - |
| Scalp Treatment Specialist | 12.20% | 20,205 |
Similar hairstylist/cosmetologist jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Nail Artist | 5.12% | 4,559 |
| Barber Apprentice | 8.10% | 7,786 |
| Esthetician | 8.70% | 3,747 |
| Scalp Treatment Specialist | 12.20% | 20,205 |
Foreign languages spoken by hairstylist/cosmetologists
The most common foreign language among hairstylist/cosmetologists is Spanish at 71.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Polish at 4.8% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 2.9%.
- Spanish, 71.2%
- Polish, 4.8%
- Portuguese, 2.9%
- Ukrainian, 2.9%
- French, 2.9%
- Other, 15.3%
Hairstylist/cosmetologist languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 71.2% |
| Polish | 4.8% |
| Portuguese | 2.9% |
| Ukrainian | 2.9% |
| French | 2.9% |
| Other | 15.3% |
