Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary
In Florida, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn $29,530 at the median, or about $14.2 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $29,955 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 75.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $30K get you in Florida?
About hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
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What this looks like in Florida
Pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Florida runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $36K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 77.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologistss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $30K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary by metro in Florida
22 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sebring | $36K | +22% | 30 |
| Naples-Marco Island | $33K | +13% | 800 |
| Homosassa Springs | $30K | +2% | 170 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $30K | +1% | 460 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $30K | +1% | 290 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $30K | +1% | 4,910 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $30K | +1% | 1,010 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $30K | +1% | 1,540 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $30K | -0% | 4,540 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $29K | -0% | 3,090 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $29K | -1% | 310 |
| Port St. Lucie | $29K | -1% | 420 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $29K | -1% | 150 |
| Punta Gorda | $29K | -1% | 200 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $29K | -2% | 500 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $29K | -2% | 770 |
| Tallahassee | $29K | -2% | 410 |
| Jacksonville | $29K | -2% | 1,930 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $28K | -4% | 540 |
| Gainesville | $28K | -5% | 260 |
| Ocala | $27K | -8% | 270 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $27K | -8% | 210 |
Showing 1–10 of 22 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $30K, rent takes 77.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/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 Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,647/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 101% 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 Florida?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $30K here vs. $36K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Florida pays $30K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $30K — below the national median.
How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make in Florida?
The median is $29,530 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,450, and experienced hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists can clear $58,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $30K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,147/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 77.2% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary is worth about $29,955 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.