Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary
In Mississippi, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn $27,560 at the median, or about $13.25 an hour. The range runs from $17K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.9), which stretches that salary to about $31,001 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,077/month, about 55.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Mississippi. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $28K get you in Mississippi?
About hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
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What this looks like in Mississippi
Pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Mississippi runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $36K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,077/month, which is 56.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. 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, Mississippi
Entry-level hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (10th percentile) start around $17K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary by metro in Mississippi
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $27K | -2% | 300 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi | $27K | -2% | 170 |
| Hattiesburg | $25K | -11% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Mississippi numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Mississippi?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 56.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,077/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 Mississippi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists typically earn — is $17K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,042/month. At HUD’s $1,077/month FMR, rent would take 103% 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 Mississippi?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $28K here vs. $36K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Mississippi compare to the national average for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Mississippi pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $31K — below the national median.
How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make in Mississippi?
The median is $27,560 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $17,370, and experienced hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists can clear $58,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Mississippi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,907/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 56.5% 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has a Regional Price Parity of 88.9 (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 $31,001 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.