Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Overview

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists has a national median salary of $35,790 per year, with +7.7% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a postsecondary certificate as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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.

Work Values

• Relationships
• Independence
• Achievement

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
• Schedule client appointments.
• Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
• Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
• Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.

Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Selling or Influencing Others
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Thinking Creatively
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
• Getting Information
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization

Detailed Work Activities

• Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a postsecondary certificate as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished an associate's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Associate's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a postsecondary certificate.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:

Video Resources