Jobs Similar to Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Also called: Hairdressers and Cosmetologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Shampooers, Skincare Specialists and Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists: $35,790 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ShampooersSame group | 78% | $32,600−9% | High school |
| 2 | Skincare SpecialistsSame group | 78% | $45,330+27% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Manicurists and PedicuristsSame group | 77% | $35,7600% | High school |
| 4 | BarbersSame group | 75% | $38,210+7% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Animal Trainers | 74% | $39,990+12% | High school |
| 6 | Bartenders | 72% | $34,340−4% | High school |
| 7 | Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | 71% | $47,160+32% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | 71% | $39,390+10% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Floral Designers | 70% | $37,360+4% | High school |
| 10 | Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | 69% | $41,380+16% | High school |
| 11 | Waiters and Waitresses | 68% | $35,230−2% | High school |
| 12 | Retail Salespersons | 68% | $35,410−1% | High school |
| 13 | Photographers | 68% | $44,660+25% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Opticians, Dispensing | 68% | $47,260+32% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants | 68% | $36,300+1% | High school |
| 16 | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 67% | $35,510−1% | High school |
| 17 | Athletes and Sports Competitors | 67% | $66,710+86% | High school |
| 18 | Animal Caretakers | 67% | $35,360−1% | High school |
| 19 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | 67% | $35,360−1% | High school |
| 20 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | 67% | $33,580−6% | High school |
- 1Shampooers
78% similar · $32,600 (−9%) · High school · Same group
- 2Skincare Specialists
78% similar · $45,330 (+27%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Manicurists and Pedicurists
77% similar · $35,760 (0%) · High school · Same group
- 4Barbers
75% similar · $38,210 (+7%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 5Animal Trainers
74% similar · $39,990 (+12%) · High school
- 6Bartenders
72% similar · $34,340 (−4%) · High school
- 7Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
71% similar · $47,160 (+32%) · Training or associate
- 8Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
71% similar · $39,390 (+10%) · Training or associate
- 9Floral Designers
70% similar · $37,360 (+4%) · High school
- 10Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers
69% similar · $41,380 (+16%) · High school
- 11Waiters and Waitresses
68% similar · $35,230 (−2%) · High school
- 12Retail Salespersons
68% similar · $35,410 (−1%) · High school
- 13Photographers
68% similar · $44,660 (+25%) · Training or associate
- 14Opticians, Dispensing
68% similar · $47,260 (+32%) · Training or associate
- 15Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
68% similar · $36,300 (+1%) · High school
- 16Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
67% similar · $35,510 (−1%) · High school
- 17Athletes and Sports Competitors
67% similar · $66,710 (+86%) · High school
- 18Animal Caretakers
67% similar · $35,360 (−1%) · High school
- 19Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
67% similar · $35,360 (−1%) · High school
- 20Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
67% similar · $33,580 (−6%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists.
- Athletes and Sports Competitors67% similar · $66,710 (+86%)
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors71% similar · $47,160 (+32%)
- Opticians, Dispensing68% similar · $47,260 (+32%)
- Skincare Specialists78% similar · $45,330 (+27%)
- Photographers68% similar · $44,660 (+25%)
- Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers69% similar · $41,380 (+16%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Shampooers78% similar · High school
- Manicurists and Pedicurists77% similar · High school
- Animal Trainers74% similar · High school
- Bartenders72% similar · High school
- Floral Designers70% similar · High school
- Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers69% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
What jobs are most similar to hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Shampooers (78% similar), Skincare Specialists (78% similar), Manicurists and Pedicurists (77% similar), Barbers (75% similar) and Animal Trainers (74% similar).
Which jobs like hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Athletes and Sports Competitors ($66,710, +86%; usually a high school diploma), Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors ($47,160, +32%; usually training or an associate degree) and Opticians (Dispensing) ($47,260, +32%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists ($35,790). Without more preparation than hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists usually need: Athletes and Sports Competitors, Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors and Opticians (Dispensing).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.