Specializes in coloring hair, from highlights and balayage to corrective color, using chemistry and an artist's eye. BLS does not publish separate figures for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists; it counts them within hairstylist (SOC 39-5012), whose median pay is $35,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 39-5012
- Personal Care and Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Hair Colorist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $35,790a year, or $17.21/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $27KTop 10% $71K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +7.7%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+7.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +7.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 73,400595,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025595K
- Projected 2035640.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 595K Projected 2035 640.9K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Haircolorist, Color Specialist, Master Colorist, Balayage Specialist, Color Educator.
Pay
How much do Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists make?
Every hair colorist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$35,790
Middle half earn $30,120 to $48,830
- 10th
- $27,040
- 25th
- $30,120
- 75th
- $48,830
- 90th
- $71,190
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $27,040 |
| 25th | $30,120 |
| Median | $35,790 |
| 75th | $48,830 |
| 90th | $71,190 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $35,790
- Median hourly wage
- $17.21/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $43,960
- People employed
- 305,710
Versus all US occupations
At $35,790, Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn 30% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $15,190 a year.
Versus personal care and service occupations
Inside the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120, this is 6% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $71,190 or more while the bottom 10% earn $27,040, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 3% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Washington posts the highest raw median ($59,510), but once local prices are taken into account South Dakota leads at $56,217 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $59,510 | $55,610 | 6,930 |
| 2Oregon | $57,580 | $55,708 | 1,860 |
| 3District of Columbia | $54,570 | $49,654 | 870 |
| 4South Dakota | $49,800 | $56,217 | 690 |
| 5Vermont | $48,650 | $49,664 | 440 |
| 6Connecticut | $44,620 | $43,065 | 4,090 |
| 7Maine | $44,000 | $45,337 | 970 |
| 8Minnesota | $39,170 | $39,718 | 5,320 |
| 9California | $38,660 | $34,917 | 27,080 |
| 10North Carolina | $38,410 | $40,720 | 8,490 |
Job outlook
Is Hair Colorist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +7.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | +7.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists to change 7.7% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.2× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 45,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 73,400 openings are projected each year, 12.3% of the 595,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Hair Colorist
Hair colorists must hold a state cosmetology license, earned by completing a state-approved cosmetology program and passing written and practical exams, often developed by the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology. Specialization comes after licensing through salon assistant programs, color manufacturer education, and advanced classes. Independent boards offer haircolor certification exams for colorists who want a credential beyond the license.
Most colorists start as assistants in a salon with a strong color reputation, learning formulation under senior colorists before building their own book of clients.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a Hair Colorist do?
A hair colorist focuses on color services in a salon. They consult with clients about the look they want, assess hair condition and history, and choose formulas and techniques such as foil highlights, balayage, glossing, and gray coverage. Colorists mix formulas by weight and timing, process and rinse color, and tone hair to the exact shade.
Corrective color, fixing box dye, brassiness, or uneven results, is a specialty that relies on understanding color theory and hair chemistry. Senior colorists build a loyal clientele, train junior stylists, and may work as educators for color manufacturers, teaching techniques at salons and trade shows.
Day-to-day tasks
- Consult with clients on goals, hair history, and maintenance
- Assess hair condition and choose color techniques
- Formulate and mix color by weight and processing time
- Apply highlights, balayage, glosses, and gray coverage
- Correct uneven or unwanted color
- Recommend home care to protect color
- Train assistants and junior stylists on color work
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Hair colorists work in salons, often on commission, booth rent, or as suite owners. Schedules include evenings and weekends to fit clients. The job requires standing for long periods, repetitive hand and arm motions, and working with chemicals, so ventilation and gloves matter.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.8
- Critical Thinking3.4
- Active Learning3.3
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Writing2.9
- Learning Strategies2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Persuasion2.9
- Instructing2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Persuasion | 2.9 |
| Instructing | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Point of sale POS software
- Video creation and editing software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Hair Colorist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ARS) built on O*NET's Hairstylist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Hair Colorist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
- Realistic5.4
- Artistic4.1
- Social4.0
- Conventional3.9
- Enterprising3.3
- Investigative1.5
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Hair Colorist
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
Makeup Artist, Theatrical and Performance
$97,150median a year
Most earn $23K to $167K
+6.1%Certificate - Personal Care and Service
More personal care and service careers
Median annual pay, with hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists highlighted
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,160
- Concierge$38,950
- Tour Guide and Escort$38,120
- Hairstylist$35,790
- Hair Colorist$35,790
- Manicurist and Pedicurist$35,760
- Nanny$34,980
- Childcare Worker$34,980
- Gambling Dealer$34,320
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $47,160 |
| Concierge | $38,950 |
| Tour Guide and Escort | $38,120 |
| Hairstylist | $35,790 |
| Hair Colorist | $35,790 |
| Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 |
| Nanny | $34,980 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Hair Colorist appears on
Questions
Hair Colorist: frequently asked questions
How much do Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists. It counts them within hairstylist, whose median pay is $35,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $30,120 and $48,830, and the top 10% earn $71,190 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Hair Colorist?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.
Is Hair Colorist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 7.7% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 73,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Hair Colorist do?
A hair colorist focuses on color services in a salon. A typical task: consult with clients on goals, hair history, and maintenance. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Office suite software, Operating system software.
Which states pay Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists the most?
The highest state medians for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists are Washington ($59,510), Oregon ($57,580), District of Columbia ($54,570) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, South Dakota moves to the top at $56,217.
What personality type suits a Hair Colorist?
O*NET scores Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists highest on the Realistic, Artistic and Social interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, ESFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.