651,200
U.S. barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
The combined occupation employed 651,200 people in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, August 2025U.S. REFERENCE DATA
Hair and salon industry statistics.
A practical reference for the people, work, and spending that shape the U.S. hair and salon economy.
Last updated August 18, 2026. Figures are shown for the latest year available from each source.
AT A GLANCE
A sector built on skilled, independent work.
Hair professionals, salon owners, beauty students, writers, and shoppers often need the same baseline facts. This page brings together current public figures on employment, pay, projected demand, and consumer spending in one place.
575,200
Hairdresser, hairstylist, and cosmetologist jobs
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists accounted for 575,200 of those jobs in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, August 202548%
Self-employed share
Nearly half of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists were self-employed in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, August 2025$16.95
Median hourly wage
The median hourly wage for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists was $16.95 in May 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, August 20255%
Projected occupation growth
Combined employment for barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, adding 35,300 jobs.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, August 202584,200
Projected annual openings
About 84,200 openings a year are projected for barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, August 2025$978
Average annual personal care spending
The average U.S. consumer unit spent $978 on personal care products and services in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures, September 20252.9%
Year-over-year spending growth
Average personal care products and services spending rose 2.9% from 2023 to 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures, September 20251.2%
Share of consumer spending
Personal care products and services represented 1.2% of average annual U.S. consumer spending in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures, September 202510,370
Philadelphia-area hair professionals
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area employed an estimated 10,370 hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in May 2023.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2023READ THE FIGURES CAREFULLY
What these numbers cover.
The employment and wage figures use the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation categories for barbers, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists. Personal care spending is a broader consumer category that includes products and services beyond hair.
Wage estimates do not include self-employed workers, even though self-employment is a major part of this field. The Philadelphia figure is the latest metropolitan estimate available in the source used here.
SOURCES
Primary public data.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Barbers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Employment, self-employment, wage, and 2024 to 2034 projection figures.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures, 2024. Average annual consumer spending and spending share figures.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington occupational employment estimates, May 2023. Philadelphia-area employment figure.
Cite this page
HookedOnBundles Virgin Hair. “U.S. Hair & Salon Industry Statistics.” Updated August 18, 2026. https://hookedonbundlesvirginhair.com/hair-industry-statistics