AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 39-5012.00
Will AI replace Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists?
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists: AI can already handle 1 of 22 tasks; the work mostly needs an efficient-tier model.
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Every task, scored
The 22 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, from most to least exposed. 1 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.
| Task | AI exposure | Evidence | Model tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administer therapeutic medication and advise patron to seek medical treatment for chronic or contagious scalp conditions. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Develop new styles and techniques. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles. | Observed | Efficient | |
| Recommend and explain the use of cosmetics, lotions, and creams to soften and lubricate skin and enhance and restore natural appearance. | Observed | Standard | |
| Train or supervise other hairstylists, hairdressers, and assistants. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Schedule client appointments. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Massage and treat scalp for hygienic and remedial purposes, using hands, fingers, or vibrating equipment. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Operate cash registers to receive payments from patrons. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Comb, brush, and spray hair or wigs to set style. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Apply water or setting, straightening or waving solutions to hair, and use curlers, rollers, hot combs and curling irons to press and curl hair. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Shape eyebrows and remove facial hair, using depilatory cream, tweezers, electrolysis or wax. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Clean, shape, and polish fingernails and toenails, using files and nail polish. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Shave, trim, and shape beards and moustaches. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Give facials to patrons, using special compounds, such as lotions and creams. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Attach wigs or hairpieces to model heads and dress wigs and hairpieces according to instructions, samples, sketches or photographs. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Order, display, and maintain supplies. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs. | Estimated | No tier |
Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 2 of 22 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 20 of 22. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.
The model tier this role needs
An efficient-tier model or lower covers 81% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 95% of the work is something AI can address at some tier, and 5% is hands-on.
Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.
Wages, employment and outlook
- US employment
- 305,710
- Median annual wage
- $35,790
- Middle half of earners
- $30,120 to $48,830
- Projected change, 2024 to 2034
- +5.6%
Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034.
Adjacent roles
The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.
- Barbers 75% skill overlap, about 9 months to move Exposure31
- Shampooers 68% skill overlap, about 12 months to move Exposure57
- Skincare Specialists 66% skill overlap, about 12 months to move Exposure64
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance 64% skill overlap, about 13 months to move Exposure69
- Manicurists and Pedicurists 63% skill overlap, about 13 months to move Exposure62
Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.
Questions about Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists and AI
Will AI replace Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists?
AI already handles 1 of the 22 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 32 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by +5.6% from 2024 to 2034.
What is the AI exposure of Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists?
32 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 2 of the 22 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 20 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.
Which Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists tasks can AI already do?
The tasks with the highest exposure are: Administer therapeutic medication and advise patron to seek medical treatment for chronic or contagious scalp conditions. It is the only task that reach 60 or more.
What AI model tier does this role need?
An efficient-tier model or lower covers 81% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.
How many people work as Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, and what do they earn?
305,710 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $35,790 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +5.6% from 2024 to 2034.
How to cite
Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.
JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/hairdressers-hairstylists-and-cosmetologists
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