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Cosmetologist salary in California

Updated November 2, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$38,660median pay per year in California, or $18.59 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $35,360lowest 10% earn less
  2. $36,60025th percentile
  3. $38,660median
  4. $49,03075th percentile
  5. $68,640top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $35,790[3]

The median pay for cosmetologists in California was $38,660 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $2,870 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
27,080[4]
Rank by median pay
9 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
+8.0%[6]

How much do cosmetologists make in California?

Half of cosmetologists in California earned more than $38,660 a year, and half earned less[1]. That is $18.59 an hour[1]. The mean was higher, at $48,290 a year[7]. The median across all jobs in the state was $58,240[8], so cosmetologists earned $19,580 less[9].

Across the US, the median for cosmetologists was $35,790[3]. California was 8.0% higher[6] and ranked 9th among the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,360, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $68,640[2]. The middle half fell between $36,600 and $49,030[2].

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area had the highest metro median at $43,500[10]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara was at $43,410 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at $42,400[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for cosmetologists in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$38,660[1]$35,790[3]
Median per hour$18.59[1]$17.21[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$35,360[2]$27,040[13]
Top 10% earn more than$68,640[2]$71,190[13]
Jobs27,080[4]305,710[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for cosmetologists, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$43,50010,910
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$42,4003,370
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$37,2902,870
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$36,4102,080
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$43,4102,030
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$36,7801,800
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$37,440500
Fresno, CA$35,880430

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for cosmetologists in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$57,5801,860
Arizona$36,8107,840
Nevada$33,8401,940

Median pay for cosmetologists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for cosmetologists are projected to grow 7.7% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: postsecondary nondegree award[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cosmetologist make in California?
The median was $38,660 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $48,290[7].
How much does a cosmetologist make an hour in California?
The median was $18.59 an hour[1]. The 25th percentile was $17.60 an hour and the 75th was $23.57[17].
Which city in California pays cosmetologists the most?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $43,500 a year[10]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara was close at $43,410[11].
Is California a good state for cosmetologists?
California ranked 9th of 49 states and DC for median pay[5]. Its median was 8.0% higher than the US median[6]. Oregon was at $57,580 and Arizona at $36,810[14].
What do you need to become a cosmetologist in California?
This is a US figure, not a California one. Across the US, the typical entry education is a postsecondary nondegree award, with no related work experience or on-the-job training[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in California was $38,660 per year and $18.59 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in California: 10th percentile $35,360, 25th percentile $36,600, 75th percentile $49,030, 90th percentile $68,640. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in the US as a whole was $35,790 per year and $17.21 per hour, with about 305,710 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 27,080 people worked as Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 9th highest median annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists out of the 49 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in California ($38,660) was $2,870 (8.0%) higher than the US median ($35,790). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in California was $48,290 per year and $23.22 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in California was $19,580 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 23 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the highest median annual wage, $43,500. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in the US: 10th percentile $27,040, 25th percentile $30,120, 75th percentile $48,830, 90th percentile $71,190. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $57,580; Arizona $36,810; Nevada $33,840. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists is projected to grow 7.7% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 73,400 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in California: 10th percentile $17.00, 25th percentile $17.60, 75th percentile $23.57, 90th percentile $33.00. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.