Find Trade Colleges
Shampooers: Job Description
Shampoo and rinse customers' hair.
What Do Shampooers Do?
Typical responsibilities of shampooers span:
- Massage, shampoo, and condition patron's hair and scalp to clean them and remove excess oil.
- Advise patrons with chronic or potentially contagious scalp conditions to seek medical treatment.
- Treat scalp conditions and hair loss, using specialized lotions, shampoos, or equipment such as infrared lamps or vibrating equipment.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective shampooers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Shampooers Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Hair Assistant
- Hair Shampoo Assistant
- Salon Shampoo Assistant
- Scalp Treatment Operator
- Scalp Treatment Specialist
- Shampoo Assistant
- Shampoo Person
- Shampoo Specialist
How Many Shampooers Are There?
There are about 174,721 shampooers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +10.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Shampooers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $26,903 |
| Hourly median | $12.93 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,036 |
| 75th percentile | $31,769 |
| 90th percentile | $36,636 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Shampooers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $36,320 |
| California | $35,970 |
| Connecticut | $32,640 |
| New York | $32,050 |
| New Jersey | $31,470 |
| Maryland | $31,200 |
| Illinois | $29,280 |
| Louisiana | $28,130 |
| Delaware | $27,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $27,280 |
| Florida | $27,040 |
| Virginia | $26,910 |
| Georgia | $26,510 |
| Tennessee | $26,420 |
| Texas | $23,350 |
| North Carolina | $23,040 |
| Oklahoma | $21,610 |
| Alabama | $20,970 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for shampooers differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $35,970 | 21.8% | 1.72 |
| Middle Atlantic | $30,387 | 50.0% | 3.96 |
| Great Lakes | $29,280 | 6.0% | 1.41 |
| Southeast | $26,279 | 22.3% | 2.68 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Shampooers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $35,970 | 1,520 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $34,360 | 80 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | NY | $32,240 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $32,050 | 1,450 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $31,470 | 30 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $31,200 | 200 |
| Lexington Park, MD | MD | $31,200 | 40 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $31,200 | 740 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of shampooers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 8,740 | $31,470 |
Shampooers work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for shampooers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Standing
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Physical Proximity
How to Become Shampooers
Typical shampooers positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Dentists, General (Supplemental)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Supplemental)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Supplemental)
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric (Supplemental)
- Pediatric Surgeons (Supplemental)
- Acupuncturists (Supplemental)
- Dental Hygienists (Supplemental)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for shampooers typically earn programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-5093.00 (Shampooers).