Hairstylists appear to earn much more today than they did over a decade ago. But when we adjust those wages for inflation and consider the cost of operating a hairstyling business, the improvement is much smaller than it first appears.
I wanted to compare what hairstylists earned in the past with what they earn today—and, more importantly, what those wages could actually buy.
Hairstylist pay in 2011 compared with 2024
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- The median hairstylist wage in 2011 was $10.85 per hour
- The median hairstylist wage in 2024 was $16.95 per hour
That represents a noticeable increase in the dollar amount hairstylists earned per hour.
At first glance, it looks like hairstylist pay increased by more than 50%. However, comparing the two numbers directly does not account for inflation.
A dollar in 2011 had more buying power than a dollar in 2024.
What happens when we adjust for inflation?
After adjusting the 2011 wage for inflation, $10.85 in 2011 would equal approximately $15.13 in 2024 dollars.
This gives us a much more realistic comparison:
| Wage comparison | Hourly wage |
|---|---|
| Hairstylist median wage in 2011 | $10.85 |
| 2011 wage adjusted to 2024 dollars | $15.13 |
| Hairstylist median wage in 2024 | $16.95 |
After accounting for inflation, the real increase in buying power was approximately 12% over 13 years.
Hairstylist pay did improve, but not nearly as much as the difference between $10.85 and $16.95 initially suggests.
The average wage does not tell the whole story
There is another important issue with these numbers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 48% of hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists were self-employed in 2024.
However, the occupational wage information does not include self-employed workers.
This means the median wage does not fully represent a large portion of the hairstyling industry, including:
- Booth renters
- Salon-suite owners
- Independent hairstylists
- Self-employed mobile hairstylists
- Hairstylists who own their salons
These stylists may collect the full price of a service, but that does not mean they get to keep the full amount.
Revenue is not the same as profit
An independent hairstylist might collect $250 for a color service. That $250 is revenue—not take-home profit.
Before determining what was actually earned, the stylist may need to subtract:
- Color and other products
- Booth or suite rent
- Booking software
- Credit-card processing fees
- Business insurance
- Marketing expenses
- Towels, gloves and cleaning supplies
- Continuing education
- Licensing fees
- Taxes
- Other operating expenses
The amount remaining after these costs is much closer to the stylist’s actual profit.
This is why comparing a self-employed hairstylist’s service revenue with an employee’s hourly wage can be misleading. They represent two different financial situations.
Why hairstylists can earn more but still feel behind
A hairstylist can raise prices, generate more sales and stay fully booked while still struggling financially.
That can happen when:
- Product prices increase
- Booth or suite rent increases
- Personal living expenses increase
- Taxes are not included in pricing decisions
- Services take longer than expected
- Discounts reduce the profit from appointments
- The stylist does not track the cost of each service
- Prices are based on nearby salons instead of the stylist’s own expenses
This is why being fully booked does not always mean being profitable.
A busy schedule shows that clients want your services. It does not automatically show how much money you keep after paying every expense.
The question hairstylists should be asking
The hairstyling industry frequently talks about service prices, annual sales and being fully booked.
Those numbers matter, but they are only part of the financial picture.
The conversation needs to move beyond:
“How much did I make?”
We also need to ask:
“How much did I actually keep?”
To answer that question, hairstylists need to understand their product costs, daily overhead, taxes, personal expenses and the amount of time required for each service.
Once those numbers are clear, it becomes easier to:
- Price services confidently
- Identify services that are not profitable
- Set realistic daily revenue goals
- Decide whether booth rental or commission is better
- Know when a price increase is necessary
- Build a business that supports life outside the salon
Are hairstylists financially better off today?
The research shows that hairstylist wages are higher than they were in 2011. However, after adjusting for inflation, the improvement in buying power is much smaller.
The data also leave out nearly half of the industry because self-employed hairstylists are not included in the occupational wage estimate.
For independent stylists, the most meaningful number is not simply what they charge or collect. It is what remains after products, business expenses and taxes are accounted for.
So, are hairstylists financially better off today than they were 10–15 years ago?
The answer depends on more than wages. It depends on expenses, pricing, business structure and—most importantly—how much profit the stylist actually gets to keep.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: 2011 Occupational Employment and Wages
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Barbers, Hairstylists and Cosmetologists
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Historical Consumer Price Index Data