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Job outlook for hair assistants in the United States
Hair assistant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected hair assistant job growth rate is 11% from 2018-2028.
About 65,000 new jobs for hair assistants are projected over the next decade.
Hair assistant salaries have increased 13% for hair assistants in the last 5 years.
There are over 79,536 hair assistants currently employed in the United States.
There are 34,394 active hair assistant job openings in the US.
The average hair assistant salary is $36,693.
Are hair assistant jobs in demand?
Hair assistant job and salary trends over time
Hair assistant jobs over time
Hair assistant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 79,536 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 84,105 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 107,342 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 104,908 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 97,872 | 0.03% |
Average hair assistant salary over time
Hair assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $36,693 | $17.64 | +4.9% |
| 2025 | $34,965 | $16.81 | +5.5% |
| 2024 | $33,142 | $15.93 | --0.5% |
| 2023 | $33,303 | $16.01 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $32,512 | $15.63 | +2.5% |
Hair assistant jobs by state
Most common states for hair assistants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 429 | 6% |
| 2 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 537 | 5% |
| 3 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 513 | 5% |
| 4 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 148 | 5% |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 235 | 4% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 228 | 4% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 41 | 4% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 37 | 4% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 21 | 4% |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 392 | 3% |
| 11 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 259 | 3% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 210 | 3% |
| 13 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 208 | 3% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 194 | 3% |
| 15 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 130 | 3% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 102 | 3% |
| 17 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 53 | 3% |
| 18 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 49 | 3% |
| 19 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 25 | 3% |
| 20 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 23 | 3% |
Hair Assistant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of hair assistant experts
Skyline College
Daytona State College
Daytona State College
Guilford Technical Community College
Cleveland Community College
What general advice would you give to a Hair Assistant?
Lynsey Hemstreet: Trends change quickly in the cosmetology industry, so follow some industry pros on social media for inspiration and education. Clients will ask about new services like brow lamination or micro-extensions, and you can add new services to your menu just as soon as you can get trained. In the cosmetology industry, soft skills like communication, professionalism and customer service are always in demand. If those are your weak spots, consider taking some classes on public speaking and business. Also, don't be afraid to embrace technology. Convenience is a major selling point in this industry, and learning how to use appointment management apps can help your clients book easily and quickly.
What Hair Assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lynsey Hemstreet: Don't sell yourself short! Respect the time and energy you spent going to school and honing your craft and charge what you are worth. Resist the temptation to give discounts, promotions or free services to friends and family. Have faith that people will pay you what you're worth.
What Hair Assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Cynthia Vancura: I would suggest keeping up with the trends through social media, practicing on friends and family and if possible find jobs in salons as a receptionist, or any of the Beauty stores. Hair cuts and color application is a critical importance to the Cosmetology field.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Hair Assistants?
Dee Gay: I do believe that the coronavirus pandemic will have an enduring impact on graduates. Whether we like it or not, this is the new "norm" that we will continue to live in. In salons, we have always practiced sanitation and disinfection since we work so closely with the public, and this practice will continue and evolve as we continue to learn more new ways to make sure that we keep people safe and healthy.
What general advice would you give to a Hair Assistant?
Kathy Grant: Research salons and make sure that you pick one that is willing to help advance and improve on the skills you have acquired in school. Continuing education should be relevant to them. Don't be afraid to start as an assistant. Make sure the salon is a good fit for you financially. Some salons offer hourly pay while others offer commission or booth rent. And lastly, there are so many directions you can go in with your degree. You are not limited to working in a salon behind a chair.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Hair Assistants in the next 3-5 years?
Kathy Grant: The technology of hair color is taking a turn toward safer ingredients.
Also, online scheduling through Social Media will become much
more prevalent.
Charley Sain
Cosmetology Instructor, Program Coordinator for Cosmetology, Esthetics, and ManicuringCleveland Community College
Business
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Hair Assistants?
Charley Sain: I believe there could be a slight impact on future professionals due to the pandemic, but they will persevere, if they stay dedicated and follow all guidelines set forth by their governing board. People love and need to get beauty services, so I do not believe the impact will last. I also think that the pandemic will prepare these professionals for future challenges in our industry, and make them more reliable professionals.