Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary
In North Carolina, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn $38,410 at the median, or about $18.47 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $41,453 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 48.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in North Carolina?
About hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $36K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 49.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary by metro in North Carolina
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $48K | +25% | 530 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $44K | +14% | 1,810 |
| Asheville | $41K | +6% | 330 |
| Jacksonville | $40K | +4% | 90 |
| Winston-Salem | $39K | +1% | 550 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $39K | +0% | 2,940 |
| Fayetteville | $38K | -0% | 160 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $38K | -2% | 470 |
| Wilmington | $37K | -3% | 500 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $35K | -9% | 160 |
| Greenville | $35K | -9% | 80 |
| Burlington | $35K | -10% | 90 |
| Goldsboro | $31K | -20% | 50 |
| Rocky Mount | $27K | -29% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
Compare to other states
Track hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 49.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,613/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 80% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $36K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
North Carolina pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make in North Carolina?
The median is $38,410 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,880, and experienced hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists can clear $61,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,598/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 49.4% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $41,453 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.