Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay in North Carolina
$43,670avg. a year
$21.00 an hour · 8,490 employed
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in North Carolina earn an average of $43,670 a year. That is about the same as the U.S. average of $43,960. The best-paying metro area is Durham-Chapel Hill, NC at $55,430.
$38,410Median pay
$21.00Average hourly
+50%Avg. pay since 2020
#20Of 49 states + D.C.
Top-paying North Carolina metro areas
Average pay for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists by metro area. Swipe to see all 14.
1530 jobs
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
$55,430
$26.65 an hour
21,810 jobs
Raleigh-Cary, NC
$46,310
$22.26 an hour
390 jobs
Jacksonville, NC
$44,500
$21.39 an hour
4330 jobs
Asheville, NC
$44,160
$21.23 an hour
52,940 jobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
$43,290
$20.81 an hour
6470 jobs
Greensboro-High Point, NC
$42,650
$20.50 an hour
7500 jobs
Wilmington, NC
$42,040
$20.21 an hour
8160 jobs
Fayetteville, NC
$41,630
$20.02 an hour
9550 jobs
Winston-Salem, NC
$40,230
$19.34 an hour
10160 jobs
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
$39,900
$19.18 an hour
1190 jobs
Burlington, NC
$39,180
$18.84 an hour
1280 jobs
Greenville, NC
$37,980
$18.26 an hour
1350 jobs
Goldsboro, NC
$35,470
$17.05 an hour
1460 jobs
Rocky Mount, NC
$31,460
$15.13 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay in North Carolina, charted
Pay over time
North Carolina, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where North Carolina hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · North Carolina highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $39k$39k–$43k$43k–$48k$48k+North Carolina
North Carolina vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $43,960 | $21.13 |
| North Carolina | $43,670 | $21.00 |
| Georgia | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| South Carolina | $42,580 | $20.47 |
| Tennessee | $38,100 | $18.32 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
- Manicurists and Pedicurists$42,800
- Skincare Specialists$50,870
- Childcare Workers$30,940
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants$27,560
- Recreation Workers$35,250
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$48,270
Average pay, North Carolina, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make in North Carolina?
The average is $43,670 a year, and the median is $38,410. That is about the same as the U.S. average of $43,960.
What is the hourly wage in North Carolina?
$21.00 an hour on average; the median is $18.47.
Where in North Carolina do they earn the most?
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($55,430), followed by Raleigh-Cary, NC ($46,310). The lowest average among 14 metro areas with data is Rocky Mount, NC ($31,460).
How does North Carolina rank?
North Carolina ranks #20 of 50 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 39-5012. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.