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Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Virginia

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Virginia

Want to work as a Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Virginia? Here’s what you need to know. Provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. May shampoo hair, apply makeup, dress wigs, remove hair, and provide nail and skincare services. Excludes “Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance” (39-5091), “Manicurists and Pedicurists” (39-5092), and “Skincare Specialists” (39-5094).

What do Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Make in Virginia?

The hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists working in Virginia, the typical annual salary is $37,850 per year (or about $18.20/hour).Earnings range from $26,000 at the 10th percentile to $88,980 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $26,000 $12.50
25th percentile $28,090 $13.50
Median (50th) $37,850 $18.20
75th percentile $56,410 $27.12
90th percentile $88,980 $42.78
Salary ranges for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Virginia

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Virginia compared to the national average — is 1.22, indicating that hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn a median of $39,017 per year ($18.76/hour), lower than the Virginia median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 235,173 hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists nationwide. In Virginia alone, about 9,480 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 2,870 hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists.

Forecasted number of jobs for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Top Virginia Metros for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

The largest metro-area employers of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Virginia.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC 1,740 $39,740
Richmond, VA 1,580 $37,350
Roanoke, VA 290 $30,530
Charlottesville, VA 280 $43,370
Lynchburg, VA 250 $37,450
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA 150 $37,850
Winchester, VA-WV 130 $40,240
Harrisonburg, VA 90 $32,730

Top States for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Employment

View the states that employ the most hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists work.

State Number Employed
Florida 23,220
Texas 22,470
California 21,510
New York 20,300
Pennsylvania 18,630
New Jersey 15,140
Illinois 13,770
Ohio 12,730
Virginia 9,480
Massachusetts 9,210
Michigan 9,010
North Carolina 8,720
Arizona 7,760
Washington 7,410
Georgia 6,850
Colorado 6,520
Wisconsin 6,460
Indiana 6,240
Maryland 5,900
Missouri 5,470

Highest-Paying States for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Where hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn the most: hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists.

State Annual Median Salary
Washington $58,920
Hawaii $52,000
Vermont $49,640
South Dakota $49,050
Maine $48,480
District of Columbia $48,060
Massachusetts $47,740
Alaska $44,700
New Jersey $44,110
Colorado $43,680

Skills

Top hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Active Listening  3.9 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.8 / 5
0
5
Service Orientation  3.6 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.4 / 5
0
5
Judgment and Decision Making  3.2 / 5
0
5
Active Learning  3.2 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Customer and Personal Service  4.4 / 5
0
5
Sales and Marketing  3.7 / 5
0
5
Administration and Management  3.0 / 5
0
5
Education and Training  3.0 / 5
0
5
English Language  2.9 / 5
0
5
Chemistry  2.8 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Top abilities for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Near Vision  4.0 / 5
0
5
Arm-Hand Steadiness  3.9 / 5
0
5
Manual Dexterity  3.9 / 5
0
5
Finger Dexterity  3.9 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  3.8 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  3.8 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists typically:

  • Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
  • Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
  • Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
  • Schedule client appointments.
  • Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
  • Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.
  • Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
  • Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
  • Operate cash registers to receive payments from patrons.
  • Order, display, and maintain supplies.
  • Comb, brush, and spray hair or wigs to set style.
  • Develop new styles and techniques.

Work Activities

  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  • Selling or Influencing Others
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  • Assisting and Caring for Others
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Thinking Creatively
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
  • Getting Information
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization
  • Training and Teaching Others

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Apple iOS

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

  • Cosmetology

Other careers like hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists include:

Also Known As

Beautician, Beauty Advisor, Beauty Operator, Beauty Specialist, Beauty Therapist, Colorist, Cosmetic Consultant, Cosmetician, Cosmetologist, Electrologist, Electrolysis Needle Operator, Electrolysis Operator, Electrolysist, Event Stylist, Funeral Home Makeup Artist.

References

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