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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Part of Human Services, in the Personal Care Services pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 39-5012.00

What the work is

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.

On a typical day

  • Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
  • Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
  • Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
  • Schedule client appointments.
  • Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
  • Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.

What it pays

$30,460
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $24,100
Experienced workers reach $56,730
  1. $24k10th
  2. $28k25th
  3. $30kMedian
  4. $43k75th
  5. $57k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $24,100, 25th $28,340, Median $30,460, 75th $42,970, 90th $56,730

About 2,210 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+11.7%

employment change in the Alamo region, 4,361 to 4,871 jobs · U.S. +6%

618

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 75,800

4,361

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 575,200

Typical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Active Listening3.0
  2. Speaking3.0
  3. Service Orientation3.3
  4. Critical Thinking3.5
  5. Active Learning3.0
  6. Judgment and Decision Making2.5
  7. Social Perceptiveness3.1
  8. Reading Comprehension3.0

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less21%
  2. Certificate79%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Palo Alto
  1. Cosmetology

    Degree · Certificate · Business & Entrepreneurship

Apply to Alamo Colleges

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