Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
SOC Code: 39-5012
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists carries a 42% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $35,250 and +5.6% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 575,200 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 42% AI exposure, Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists sits 5 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 75% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Career outlook score
37/100
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, weighted across 3 of 3 tracked dimensions
A weighted composite of median wage, projected growth, and AI-automation security (inverted exposure), each benchmarked against every other tracked occupation. It describes this occupation's standing across those three dimensions, not a guarantee of future outcomes.
- Median wage F $35,250
Annual median wage, percentile rank vs all tracked occupations
- Projected growth B+ +5.6%
Projected employment change, 2024-2034, BLS Employment Projections
- AI exposure (inverted) F 42% exposure
Lower O*NET task-automability scores lower risk; this dimension scores security, not exposure
Home health and personal care aides is #1 of 832 occupations by employment (4.3M, AI exposure rank #392 at 35%) vs. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks #1 by AI task exposure (95%, employment rank #17 at 1.6M).
Automation-risk inventory
Exclusive cut of 832 occupations by PlainWorkforce automation-risk band. Orthogonal to the continuous AI-exposure distribution chart below and to this occupation's single risk badge, this is the corpus band mix, with Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in the High band.
Credential × growth standing
Associate / award entry with a named growth shelf
Entry credential Associate / award covers 99 of 832 occupations; BLS places this one in Average (378/832). Mid-credential standing - thicker than graduate shelves, thinner than HS-dominated mass.
Where Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Where Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists sits by AI exposure
AI-exposure score distribution across U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis)
42% Around the middle lower than 25% of 832 occupations
Occupations, banded by AI-exposure score
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor) · BLS 2024–2034
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Where This Score Comes From
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists's High automation-risk tier is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each documented task the occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The employment, wage, and education figures above come from a second, separate federal source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034, matched to the O*NET task data by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 39-5012) code, with the wage figure cross-validated against the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 survey. BLS figures are presented exactly as published, with no adjustment on our part; the SOC-code match is what lets Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists be compared directly against every other tracked occupation on the same basis, not just roles that happen to share a job title.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
- 2. Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
- 3. Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
- 4. Schedule client appointments.
- 5. Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
- 6. Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.
- 7. Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
- 8. Train or supervise other hairstylists, hairdressers, and assistants.
- 9. Massage and treat scalp for hygienic and remedial purposes, using hands, fingers, or vibrating equipment.
- 10. Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Service Orientation
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Administrative
- Economics and Accounting
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Mathematics
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists has an AI exposure score of 42%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is projected to grow by 5.6% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 575,200 workers.
What skills are needed for Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Key skills for Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists include Active Listening, Speaking, Service Orientation, and others. Typical entry-level education is Postsecondary nondegree award.
How much do Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn?
The median annual wage for Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is $35,250, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
The typical entry-level education for Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is Postsecondary nondegree award. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Nationwide occupations with similar workforce profiles
Two data-derived peer sets for Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists: AI-exposure neighbors and BLS 2034 growth neighbors (distinct comparison neighborhoods, cross-occupation).
Similar AI exposure score
Nearest O*NET task-automability scores nationwide (42% here).
- Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary · AI exposure 42%
- Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance · AI exposure 42%
- Flight attendants · AI exposure 42%
- Meter readers, utilities · AI exposure 42%
Similar projected growth (2024–2034)
Nearest BLS employment change rates nationwide (+5.6% here).
- Bakers · growth +5.6%
- Phlebotomists · growth +5.6%
- Project management specialists · growth +5.6%
- Athletes and sports competitors · growth +5.5%
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published BLS + O*NET metrics among occupations with ≥10,000 workers in 2024; corpus ranks above sort the full tracked set.
Related Occupations
What to do with this
Use Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists' numbers above to compare, not just read in isolation.
- Compare Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists side by side against another occupation on wage, growth, and AI exposure. Workforce comparison tool
- Understand how the AI exposure score above is actually calculated before treating it as a verdict. Reading AI exposure scores
- See the full ranked list of occupations with the lowest automation exposure nationwide. Safest occupations from AI
AI exposure scores estimate task automatability from O*NET data; they are not a certainty of job loss, and BLS growth projections are estimates, not guarantees.
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).