Outpaid

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary
in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Median base pay · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$37,020
≈ $17.80/hr · BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 7,010 jobs
Middle 50%
$29,050–$55,680
vs U.S. median
+3%
Metro rank
#49 of 216

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro earn a median of $37,020 a year, based on BLS estimates for 7,010 jobs (May 2025). That is 3% above the U.S. median of $35,790 and 32% below the DC statewide median of $54,570. It ranks #49 of 216 metros with published figures for this job.

HAIRDRESSERS, HAIRSTYLISTS, AND COSMETOLOGISTS · WASHINGTON-ARLINGTON-ALEXANDRIA, DC-VA-MD-WV · BLS

Full percentile breakdown

BLS OEWS MAY 2025 · WASHINGTON-ARLINGTON-ALEXANDRIA, DC-VA-MD-WV · ALL EMPLOYERS, ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
P10$26,900P25$29,050MEDIAN$37,020P75$55,680P90$78,900
BLS · UNITED STATES
P10$27,040P25$30,120MEDIAN$35,790P75$48,830P90$71,190
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Questions

What is the average Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary in Washington?

The BLS median is $37,020 a year (May 2025). Half of the 7,010 jobs pay between $29,050 and $55,680. The 10th percentile is $26,900 and the 90th is $78,900.

Is Washington a high-paying metro for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists?

That is 3% above the U.S. median of $35,790 and 32% below the DC statewide median of $54,570. It ranks #49 of 216 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.

How much do Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists make an hour in Washington?

About $17.80 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $37,020 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $13.97–$26.77 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.

Does this include experience levels?

BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).

Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.