SOC 39-5012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — Athens
Athens-Clarke County, GA · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Athens, GA is $30,250 per year, 15.5% below the national median of $35,790.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Athens, GA is $30,250 per year, 15.5% below the national median of $35,790. Pay ranges from under $17,300 at the tenth percentile to more than $75,230 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $23,050 to $49,960.
Employment stands at 170, or 1.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Atlanta leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $34,640. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 280th of 303 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,300 | −51.7% |
| 25th | $23,050 | −35.6% |
| Median (50th) | $30,250 | −15.5% |
| 75th | $49,960 | +39.6% |
| 90th | $75,230 | +110.2% |
| Mean | $40,040 | +11.9% |
Other metro areas in Georgia
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Athens run 3.7% below the national average, so the median of $30,250 goes as far as $31,412 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$30,250as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,412US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $30,250 a year, 15.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $17,300 to $75,230 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 170 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Atlanta, at $34,640.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Athens, GA?
The median annual wage is $30,250, or $14.54 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,790, so pay in Athens, GA is 15.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Athens, GA earns more than $75,230 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $17,300 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Atlanta, at $34,640 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 170 jobs in this occupation in Athens, GA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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