SOC 39-5012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — Kentucky
Kentucky · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Kentucky is $29,840 per year, 16.6% 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 Kentucky is $29,840 per year, 16.6% below the national median of $35,790. Pay ranges from under $22,580 at the tenth percentile to more than $76,170 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $26,730 to $42,220.
The area has 2,350 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.2 of every thousand jobs. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Kentucky ranks 42nd by median wage. Louisville/Jefferson County leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $33,620. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 676th of 699 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,580 | −36.9% |
| 25th | $26,730 | −25.3% |
| Median (50th) | $29,840 | −16.6% |
| 75th | $42,220 | +18.0% |
| 90th | $76,170 | +112.8% |
| Mean | $41,390 | +15.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Kentucky
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $33,620 | 930 | |
| 2 | Lexington | $29,230 | 530 | |
| 3 | Bowling Green | $28,580 | 100 | |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | $28,390 | 70 | |
| 5 | Paducah | $28,350 | 40 | |
| 6 | Owensboro | $27,890 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $29,840 goes as far as $33,082 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,082US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,840 a year, 16.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,580 to $76,170 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,350 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 42nd of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Louisville/Jefferson County, at $33,620.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $29,840, or $14.35 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 Kentucky is 16.6% 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 Kentucky earns more than $76,170 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,580 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, at $33,620 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,350 jobs in this occupation in Kentucky. 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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