Shampooers: Salary Overview
Shampooers typically work in a beauty salon where they shampoo and rinse customer’s hair.
Their job description includes massaging, shampooing, and conditioning customers’ hair and scalp but also advising those who have chronic or potentially contagious scalp conditions to seek medical treatment.
They may also apply conditioning agents to the customer’s hair or scalp and administer therapeutic massages.
Shampooers also use specialized lotions, shampoos, and other products to treat hair loss and scalp conditions.
Another part of their job includes maintaining records about the treatments they have performed, client information, and service records.
Popular Programs
Shampooers need knowledge regarding what type of products are more suited to a specific type of hair but also customer’s service and communication skills.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for shampooers was $22,910 a year, or $11.02 per hour as of May 2019.
The median wage for this profession is $22,550 a year or $10.84 per hour- this means that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this amount and half earned more.
Salaries for this profession vary based on a wide range of factors, such as experience, education, the industry of employment, and region of employment.
The top 10 percent earned more than $29,230 a year while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,920 a year.
The 25th percentile for this profession is $19,450 a year, which means than 75% of all workers in this profession earned more than this amount.
The 75th percentile is $25,340 which means that only 25% percent of shampooers made more than this.
We should also mention that shampooers typically also earn tips and those who provide high-quality services can supplement their cash compensation with several thousands of dollars a year.
Shampooer Salary by Industry
Most shampooers work in the personal care services industry and only a few of them work in the travel accommodation sector.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of Personal Care Services hired 12,040 shampooers in May 2019 and paid them, on average, with $22,900 a year or $11.01 per hour.
The field of travel accommodation hired only 30 shampooers but offered a slightly higher mean salary of $24,490 a year.
Tips and Other Bonuses
Many shampooers (especially entry-level employees) are paid an hourly rate plus tips.
More experienced shampooers receive a fixed salary paid weekly or monthly.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) has set the basic combined cash & tip minimum wage rate at $7.25 so, even if you’re an entry-level employee, your cash compensation can’t be lower than this amount.
The minimum cash wage is set at $2.13 and the maximum tip credit against the minimum wage is set at $5.12.
Tipped employees are defined as employees who receive more than $30 per month in tips.
Some states regulate a higher minimum cash wage rate for tipped employees.
In California, for example, employers who have 25 employees or less have to pay at least $12 per hour in cash wage while the rate for those who have more than 25 employees is set at least $13.
So, as a shampooer in California, you will earn at least $12 an hour which is more than the U.S. average for this profession.
Montana sets the minimum cash wage at $8.65 for businesses with gross annual sales over $110,000 and $4.00 for business with gross annual sales under this amount.
Working at a high-end salon will help you earn a higher salary but you may need a few years of experience in a smaller saloon before being hired in a bigger salon.
Some states set sub-minimum rates for minors and students or have a training wage for new hires.
Also, some local governments sent minimum wages that are higher than the state-regulated minimum.
So, as a shampooer, your salary will vary not only based on the region of employment and local regulations but also depending upon the size of the employer.
* Based on information from the May 2021 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Shampooers. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.