Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary
In Texas, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn $30,680 at the median, or about $14.75 an hour. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $33,534 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 64.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $31K get you in Texas?
About hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Texas runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $36K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 63.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists salary by metro in Texas
21 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $35K | +15% | 2,800 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $34K | +11% | 6,630 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $31K | +1% | 5,480 |
| San Angelo | $31K | +1% | 60 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $30K | -1% | 2,210 |
| Midland | $30K | -2% | 90 |
| Waco | $29K | -5% | 180 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $29K | -5% | 220 |
| Lubbock | $29K | -7% | 270 |
| Abilene | $28K | -8% | 110 |
| Corpus Christi | $28K | -8% | 250 |
| Killeen-Temple | $28K | -8% | 290 |
| College Station-Bryan | $28K | -9% | 210 |
| Wichita Falls | $28K | -9% | 110 |
| Amarillo | $28K | -9% | 150 |
| Texarkana | $28K | -10% | 50 |
| Longview | $28K | -10% | 90 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $27K | -11% | 380 |
| El Paso | $27K | -12% | 510 |
| Tyler | $27K | -12% | 190 |
| Laredo | $26K | -15% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 21 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $31K, rent takes 63.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,415/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 100% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $31K here vs. $36K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Texas pays $31K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make in Texas?
The median is $30,680 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,580, and experienced hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists can clear $59,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,224/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 63.6% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $33,534 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.