Chicago vs. New York
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists. Median, spread and buying power, side by side.
Data released May 2025
BLS OEWS · SOC 39-5012
Fig. 1 — Side by side
Both distributions, one scale
10th to 90th percentile, median struck in red
Table 1 — Adjusted
New York's median is 5.4% higher — but after local prices, the advantage flips: a median salary goes further in Chicago.
Chicago's median $34,260 buys $33,100 at national prices (price parity 103.6); New York's $36,120 buys $32,100 (112.6).
Table 2 — The figures
Point by point
Published percentiles for both metros; the last column is New York against Chicago.
| Chicago | New York | Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | 12,000 | 27,660 | +130.5% |
| 10th percentile | $31,200 | $33,480 | +7.3% |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $34,580 | +10.8% |
| Median | $34,260 | $36,120 | +5.4% |
| 75th percentile | $42,360 | $54,970 | +29.8% |
| 90th percentile | $58,960 | $91,780 | +55.7% |
Sources
How this page was made
- Wage data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release. Public domain.
- Price parity
- Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Full pages
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Chicago · Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in New York
Percentiles are reported exactly as released. Derived (price-adjusted) figures round to the nearest hundred. We take no payment for how any figure is presented.