Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary
In Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn $29,520 at the median, or about $14.19 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.89), that's roughly $29,260 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,977/month, about 89.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $30K get you in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater’s Regional Price Parity (100.89). 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
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What this looks like in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $36K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,977/month, which is 92.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.89) 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in metros near Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $30K | $26K |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $29K | $29K |
| Jacksonville | $29K | $29K |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $30K | $29K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Entry-level hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $30K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $38K 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 quarterly. We'll email you when Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $30K, rent takes 92.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,977/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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,688/month. At HUD’s $1,977/month FMR, rent would take 117% 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $30K here vs. $36K nationally.
How does Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater compare to the national average for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater pays $30K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $29K — below the national median.
How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
The median is $29,520 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,130, and experienced hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists can clear $66,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $30K enough to live in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,147/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,977/month, which eats 92.1% 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has a Regional Price Parity of 100.89 (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 $29,260 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.