2026 Edition · An annual reference on what work pays

New York vs. Philadelphia

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
40k60k80k NEW YORK $36,120 PHILADELPHIA $37,320
Table 1 — Adjusted

Philadelphia's median is 3.3% higher — but after local prices, Philadelphia still leads by 13.4%.

New York's median $36,120 buys $32,100 at national prices (price parity 112.6); Philadelphia's $37,320 buys $36,400 (102.6).

Table 2 — The figures

Point by point

Published percentiles for both metros; the last column is Philadelphia against New York.

New YorkPhiladelphiaΔ
Employment27,6609,960−64.0%
10th percentile$33,480$28,600−14.6%
25th percentile$34,580$31,980−7.5%
Median$36,120$37,320+3.3%
75th percentile$54,970$49,440−10.1%
90th percentile$91,780$64,530−29.7%
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 New York · Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Philadelphia

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.