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Hair Salons & Barbershops
Great Clips, Supercuts, Sport Clips
Shampooers
Shampooers wash, condition, and massage clients' hair before or after styling, and they may also use special treatments for scalp problems or hair loss. The work is very hands-on and customer-facing: you need to be pleasant, careful, and quick while working around a busy salon schedule. The tradeoff is clear—it's an accessible way into salon work, but the pay is modest and there is only so far you can go without extra training or a license.
Also known as Shampoo AssistantBackbar AssistantShampoo TechnicianSalon Shampoo AssistantShampoo Specialist
Median Salary
$31,470
Mean $30,830
U.S. Workforce
~9K
2.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+5.5%
18.5K to 19.6K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Shampooers sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~9K workers, with a median annual pay of $31,470 and roughly 2.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 18.5 K in 2024 to 19.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Post-Secondary Certificate, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Salon Assistant and can progress toward Salon Manager. High-value skills usually include Hair Washing, Conditioning & Scalp Massage, Scalp Treatment Products, Infrared Lamps & Vibrating Equipment, and Salon Sanitation & Disinfection, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Active Listening, and Service Orientation.
Core Responsibilities
- Wash clients' hair, apply conditioner, and massage the scalp to clean the hair and remove buildup.
- Get clients ready for styling by setting up towels, product, and the wash station.
- Use special shampoos, lotions, or equipment to help with dandruff, irritation, or hair loss.
- Notice signs of scalp problems that may need medical attention and tell the client to follow up with a doctor.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Wash clients' hair, apply conditioner, and massage the scalp to clean the hair and remove buildup.
02 Get clients ready for styling by setting up towels, product, and the wash station.
03 Use special shampoos, lotions, or equipment to help with dandruff, irritation, or hair loss.
04 Notice signs of scalp problems that may need medical attention and tell the client to follow up with a doctor.
05 Keep simple records of treatments and any concerns so the salon team knows what was done.
06 Talk with stylists and clients so appointments move smoothly and the next service can start on time.
Industries That Hire
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Beauty Retail & Salon Services
Ulta Beauty, Sephora, JCPenney Salon
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Spas & Wellness Centers
Hand & Stone, Massage Envy, Woodhouse Spa
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Hotels & Resorts
Four Seasons, Marriott, Hilton
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Cruise Lines
Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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It is one of the easiest ways into salon work because BLS says no formal educational credential is typically required and training is short-term on the job.
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There are still hiring opportunities: the occupation is projected to add about 2.7K annual openings, even with modest 5.5% growth.
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The work is very hands-on, so you spend most of the day helping real people instead of sitting at a desk.
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It is a practical stepping stone if you want to move into cosmetology, barbering, or hair styling later.
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The tasks are repetitive enough that new workers can usually learn the routine quickly.
Challenges
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The pay is not high, with a mean annual wage of $30,830 and a median of $31,470, so this is usually not a long-term earning ceiling.
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Growth is only 5.5% through 2034, which is steady but not strong enough to suggest a big jump in demand.
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The job is physically repetitive: you stand a lot, lean over sinks, and work with wet hands for most of the day.
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Career advancement is limited unless you get more training or a license, so many workers have to leave the role to earn substantially more.
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You work close to clients' bodies and scalp conditions, which can mean awkward conversations, hygiene concerns, and uncomfortable situations.
Career Progression
Salon Assistant
0-1 years
$24K-$28K
You help keep the salon moving by restocking supplies, preparing wash stations, and learning customer service basics.
Shampooer
0-2 years
$29K-$34K
You wash and condition hair, handle scalp treatments, and support stylists during a busy client flow.
Hair Stylist THIS ROLE
2-5 years
$40K-$52K
After more training and licensing, you can cut, style, and color hair instead of just preparing clients for service.
Salon Manager
5-10 years
$53K-$80K
You oversee scheduling, customer experience, inventory, and staff performance across the salon.
Education Paths
Post-Secondary Certificate
This is the most common pathway, held by 67.55% of workers in the O*NET data, and it fits cosmetology or barbering certificates that lead into salon work.
High School Diploma
A smaller share, 18.35%, enter with a high school diploma and learn the rest through short-term training on the job.
Less Than a High School Diploma
About 13.05% of workers report less than a high school diploma, usually because the employer trains them directly after hiring.
Short-Term On-the-Job Training
BLS says no formal educational credential is typically required, so some employers hire first and train the basics on the job.
Key Skills
Technical
Hair Washing, Conditioning & Scalp Massage 56%
Scalp Treatment Products, Infrared Lamps & Vibrating Equipment 53%
Salon Sanitation & Disinfection 50%
Client Records, Appointment Books & POS Systems 45%
Hair and Scalp Observation 43%
Soft Skills
SpeakingActive ListeningService OrientationCoordinationMonitoringSocial Perceptiveness Job Outlook and Trends
+5.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
2.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 18.5K to 19.6 K over the next decade, representing 5.5% growth. Around 2.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.