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Career

Shampooers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Shampoo and rinse customers' hair.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $32,600 Median per year · $15.67/hr Most earn $23,110–$38,240

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Treat scalp conditions and hair loss, using specialized lotions, shampoos, or equipment such as infrared lamps or vibrating equipment.
  • Maintain treatment records.
  • 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.
  • Massage, shampoo, and condition patron's hair and scalp to clean them and remove excess oil.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 2,200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Personal care services52.8%
  • Self-employed (their own business)46.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Shampooer is an entry-level job, so you can start it soon after high school or a short training program. Most people get into it within about a year of starting salon work.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school and build people skills, since shampooers talk and work closely with clients every day.

  2. Salon apprenticeship or short training certificate

    6 months to 1 year

    Learn hair washing, scalp care, and salon hygiene through on-the-job training or a short certificate program, which is how most people build the experience salons look for.

  3. Shampooer

    Ongoing

    Work at a salon washing and rinsing clients' hair, and watch stylists to learn what comes next.

Where it can lead

  1. Hairstylist

    1-3 years of experience first

    Move from washing hair to cutting, coloring, and styling, which usually takes more training and building a client base.

  2. Salon Manager

    3-5 years of experience first

    Lead a salon team, schedule staff, and handle customers and business tasks, which requires strong experience in the salon and good organization skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take family and consumer sciences or health classesThese classes teach hygiene, customer care, and basic skills that transfer well to salon work.
  • Get a part-time job in customer serviceA job at a store, restaurant, or front desk helps you practice talking with people and staying calm when they are upset.
  • Volunteer at a salon or senior centerHelping with hair care for others builds comfort with touching hair and working with a wide range of people.
  • Ask a school counselor about cosmetology programsMany high schools offer career or technical classes in cosmetology, which can give you a head start on training.
  • Talk to working stylists or barbersHearing about their daily work helps you learn what the job is really like.

In college

  • Look into a cosmetology or barbering certificateA certificate program teaches hair care, sanitation, and salon skills that employers look for in entry-level staff.
  • Work at a salon as a receptionist or assistantFront-desk or assistant work gets you inside a salon, lets you learn the daily routine, and can lead to an apprenticeship spot.
  • Build customer service and scheduling skillsCampus jobs in retail, food service, or student services help you handle busy, people-focused work.
  • Take a basic business or communication classThese skills help with building a client list and with moving toward management roles later.
  • Learn about salon hygiene and safetyKnowing how to keep tools and work areas clean is a core part of shampooer and salon work and is worth studying early.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local salon if you can shadow or help out on weekends. Seeing the work up close helps you decide if it's right for you.
  • Practice good customer service everywhere you work, since clients often come back to the people who make them feel comfortable.
  • Look at the rules for cosmetology or barber training in your state, because some programs and licenses are required for certain salon jobs.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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