The most common hair salon positions are manager, hairdressers, receptionists, colorists, shampooers, nail technicians, skin care specialists, and massage therapists. Salon size and budget determine which jobs are offered and how much overlap between positions.
Salon Management and Staff Roles
Salon managers oversee operations, hire/train staff, create schedules, and occasionally discipline employees. Stylists are beauty experts managing client looks by cutting, coloring, styling hair, doing nails. Managers often double as stylists in small salons. Assistants are trainees, learning on the job, sweeping floors, serving drinks, assisting stylists. Front desk staff handle customer service and scheduling. Better job descriptions attract better candidates.
Career Progression and Specializations
Colourists are usually hairstylists who specialize in coloring hair. The career progression across salons is fairly predictable: from Assistant to Stylist, and then to Senior Stylist or Manager.
Salon job descriptions summarize the essential responsibilities, activities, qualifications, ability to use salon app well and skills for a role in your team. They should provide enough detail for candidates to determine if they’re qualified for the position.
As with many of the other beauty salon roles available, waxing may be carried out by staff who are also qualified to perform other treatments such as hair styling or makeup artistry, but it can also be a dedicated area of focus for some professionals.
Employees have the right to be paid a minimum wage set by the state, or the federal minimum wage, whichever is higher.