Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Low Risk
29%

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Vote Comments (17)
AUTOMATION RISK
CALCULATED
30%
(Low Risk)
POLLING
28%
(Low Risk, Based on 373 votes)
Average: 29%
LABOR DEMAND
GROWTH
7.1%
by year 2033
WAGES
$34,970
or $16.81 per hour
Volume
294,840
as of 2023
SUMMARY
What does this snowflake show?
The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
JOB SCORE
6.2/10
What's this?
Job Score (higher is better):

We rate jobs using four factors. These are:

- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions

These are some key things to think about when job hunting.

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Calculated automation risk

30% (Low Risk)

Low Risk (21-40%): Jobs in this level have a limited risk of automation, as they demand a mix of technical and human-centric skills.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Some quite important qualities of the job are difficult to automate:

  • Assisting and Caring for Others

  • Manual Dexterity

  • Finger Dexterity

  • Originality

  • Social Perceptiveness

User poll

28% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted there's a low chance this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 30% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?

Sentiment

The following graph is shown where there are enough votes to produce meaningful data. It displays user poll results over time, providing a clear indication of sentiment trends.

Sentiment over time (yearly)

Growth

Fast growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists' job openings is expected to rise 7.1% by 2033

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2023 and 2033
Updated projections are due 09-2025.

Wages

Very low paid relative to other professions

In 2023, the median annual wage for 'Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists' was $34,970, or $17 per hour

'Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists' were paid 27.2% lower than the national median wage, which stood at $48,060

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Volume

Significantly greater range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2023 there were 294,840 people employed as 'Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists' within the United States.

This represents around 0.19% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 515 people are employed as 'Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists'.

Job description

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.

SOC Code: 39-5012.00

Comments (17)

Leave a comment
Kuroneko (Highly likely)
31 Aug 2025 07:44
I think people underestimate how quickly an AI and a robot like the Optimus will be able to learn this skill and how quickly the mechanical dexterity and sensors required to be built into a delivering robot can be developed. At Elon's target price of 30k, there will be an Optimus in every home, performing all manner of personal service, including hairdressing.
Terrence (Highly likely)
16 Aug 2025 20:53
Well, It requires so many different aspects. Communication with the client, artistry dexterity, extensive knowledge of styles extensive knowledge of color extension. Ouch of chemicals I’m a retired, hairdresser of 40 years and many other things.
Anonymous (Low)
25 Mar 2025 23:27
There is a lot of personal connection that is gained through the experience of getting your hair done and with there being a real human being there, you can be guided through your emotions and they can see whether a style will fit you, your style, and/or your face shape or not.
Sylvia Thomas (Low)
26 Sep 2024 11:14
Getting your hair done is more than just a cut and colour, you are interacting with your stylist, and giving live feedback about whether the water is too hot, showing them inspo pictures or even just talking about your day
Katrina
19 May 2024 17:27
Hair color has so much opportunity for customization compared to nails or lashes. I think creating systems for ai to do hair, especially lightening and balayage techniques is very complicated and could make the service even more expensive for the consumer. For haircuts I actually think that ai could take it over. There’s a lady who created and patented “head shapes matter” I could see the mathematics and science of this program being used as a system for ai machines to cut hair. I could also see clients loving the consistency they can get from a robot in this case. I’ll be waiting to buy this machine for my retirement!
Kate
21 Mar 2024 06:06
I think it's been greatly underestimated the amount of money one can make in this profession-especially comparing it to a 4 year degree or a bachelor degree of something- as long as your body and health can hold up . There are millions of people in the world -no shortage of people
Katie Fishburn (Low)
21 Mar 2024 06:02
Hands
You need hands
Touch
You need to feel texture
They can probably formulate but need to know any underlying issues such as medication, genetics , allergies ,
Kerb
29 Mar 2023 00:01
Robots won't take this job. It's way too expensive. Instead the wage will be beaten down by millions of newly redundant public sector and financial industry employees avoiding starving to death.
April (Low)
22 Mar 2023 00:47
We all have our own unique style and artistic hand… no robot can do that! Or can they??
Mia Terra (Highly likely)
10 Oct 2022 00:29
I have seen videos of people getting their eyelash extensions and nails done by robots.
bob (No chance)
01 Feb 2021 19:08
I don't see it in our future robots haven't gotten that artistic to know the exact needs or wants of a person
Dawley Hair Design (Never)
09 Jul 2020 13:56
lol!!! been doing this over 10 yrs.. no way in HELL hair will be automated in any of our life times
Kim
26 Jan 2020 19:48
I wouldn't ever take a chance of a robot cutting my hair, I'd fear being cut by the robot.
Elle (Low)
21 Sep 2019 11:17
AI still has a long way to go before it can start doing people’s hair, too much dexterity involved.
Millie (Low)
04 Sep 2019 09:47
Because they will probably do something wrong
Sarah (No chance)
26 Jun 2019 01:36
Hairstyling is a creative job to do at saloons. Saloons are opening so this job should grow a bit.
zoe haumaha (Uncertain)
13 Jun 2019 22:53
I really want to be a hair dress
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