Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary
In Boulder, CO, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn $48,120 at the median, or about $23.13 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.2), so that salary is closer to $45,741 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,033/month, about 60.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $48K actually covers in Boulder, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boulder’s Regional Price Parity (105.2). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Boulder
Boulder sits well above the national pay line for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, local pay runs about 34% higher than the U.S. median of $36K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,033/month, which is 63.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.2), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $37K | $35K |
| Colorado Springs | $37K | $36K |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $41K | $41K |
| Greeley | $44K | $44K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $60K | +66% | 6,930 |
| Oregon | $58K | +61% | 1,860 |
| District of Columbia | $55K | +52% | 870 |
| South Dakota | $50K | +39% | 690 |
| Vermont | $49K | +36% | 440 |
| Connecticut | $45K | +25% | 4,090 |
| Maine | $44K | +23% | 970 |
| Minnesota | $39K | +9% | 5,320 |
| California | $39K | +8% | 27,080 |
| North Carolina | $38K | +7% | 8,490 |
| Montana | $38K | +6% | 690 |
| New Mexico | $38K | +5% | 1,230 |
| Colorado | $38K | +5% | 6,820 |
| Massachusetts | $37K | +4% | 9,600 |
| Arizona | $37K | +3% | 7,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $37K | +3% | 19,350 |
| Maryland | $36K | +2% | 5,860 |
| Ohio | $36K | +1% | 12,890 |
| Wisconsin | $36K | +1% | 6,260 |
| New Jersey | $36K | +1% | 15,500 |
| New York | $36K | -0% | 20,740 |
| Iowa | $36K | -0% | 2,930 |
| Idaho | $35K | -1% | 2,250 |
| Utah | $35K | -2% | 2,810 |
| Hawaii | $35K | -2% | 930 |
| North Dakota | $35K | -3% | 870 |
| Michigan | $35K | -3% | 8,970 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | -3% | 1,950 |
| Georgia | $35K | -3% | 7,910 |
| West Virginia | $34K | -4% | 1,020 |
| Delaware | $34K | -4% | 1,270 |
| Nebraska | $34K | -4% | 1,890 |
| Illinois | $34K | -5% | 13,190 |
| Nevada | $34K | -5% | 1,940 |
| South Carolina | $34K | -6% | 3,570 |
| Indiana | $33K | -8% | 5,920 |
| Alaska | $32K | -10% | 330 |
| Tennessee | $31K | -13% | 6,080 |
| Rhode Island | $31K | -13% | 1,470 |
| Missouri | $31K | -14% | 5,430 |
| Texas | $31K | -14% | 22,440 |
| Kentucky | $30K | -17% | 2,350 |
| Kansas | $30K | -17% | 2,190 |
| Oklahoma | $30K | -17% | 1,920 |
| Florida | $30K | -17% | 23,530 |
| Wyoming | $29K | -18% | 360 |
| Alabama | $29K | -19% | 3,300 |
| Arkansas | $29K | -19% | 1,410 |
| Mississippi | $28K | -23% | 1,040 |
| Louisiana | $26K | -27% | 2,720 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Boulder numbers change.
Related careers in Personal Care
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boulder?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 63.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,033/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,389/month. At HUD’s $2,033/month FMR, rent would take 85% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologist a high-paying job in Boulder?
Local pay is 34% above the national median — $48K here vs. $36K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Boulder pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s +34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $48,120 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,060, and experienced hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists can clear $103,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,216/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,033/month, which eats 63.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 105.2 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary is worth about $45,741 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.