Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary
In Maine, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn $44,000 at the median, or about $21.16 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $45,036 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,281/month, about 42.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $44K get you in Maine?
About hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Maine
Maine sits well above the national pay line for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, local pay runs about 23% 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 $1,281/month, which is 43.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary by metro in Maine
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | $46K | +6% | 600 |
| Lewiston-Auburn | $38K | -13% | 80 |
| Bangor | $37K | -16% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
Related careers in Personal Care
Frequently asked questions
Can a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 43.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,838/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 70% 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 Maine?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $44K here vs. $36K nationally.
How does Maine compare to the national average for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Maine pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make in Maine?
The median is $44,000 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,640, and experienced hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists can clear $63,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,970/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 43.1% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $45,036 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.