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How to hire a hair dresser

Hair dresser hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring hair dressers in the United States:

  • There are a total of 82,775 hair dressers in the US, and there are currently 42,777 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a hair dresser is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per hair dresser on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Houston, TX, has the highest demand for hair dressers, with 170 job openings.

How to hire a hair dresser, step by step

To hire a hair dresser, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a hair dresser:

Here's a step-by-step hair dresser hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a hair dresser job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new hair dresser
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The hair dresser hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect hair dresser also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    The following list breaks down different types of hair dressers and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Hair DresserDescriptionHourly rate
    Hair DresserBarbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists provide haircutting, hairstyling and a range of beauty services.$12-25
    CosmetologistA cosmetologist specializes in offering various services ranging from haircuts, makeup, skin and hair treatments, manicures, pedicures, and even shaving beards. They must have extensive knowledge and experience on the subject, plus keep up with current trends... Show more$12-25
    BeauticianA Beautician is a person whose job is to do hair styling, manicures, and other beauty treatments. They work in various trades of the beauty industry, such as hair, skin, or nail care.$11-26
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Appointment Scheduling
    • Customer Service
    • Product Sales
    • Curling Irons
    • Front Desk
    • Skin Care
    • Make-Up
    • Retail Products
    • Hair Cuts
    • Repeat Business
    • Dryers
    • Client Appointments
    • Bank Deposits
    • Bleach
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage product inventory for cosmetology products, place product orders, maintain the inventory.
    • Shampoo, style and color hair as well as advise clients about wigs.
    • Bleach, dye, or tint hair.
    • Assist in hair and make-up.
    • Apply make-up and cosmetics on clients.
    • Shape eyebrows using tweezers, creams.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your hair dresser job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A hair dresser can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, hair dressers' average salary in new mexico is 51% less than in washington.
    • Seniority. Entry-level hair dressers 54% less than senior-level hair dressers.
    • Certifications. A hair dresser with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a hair dresser's salary.

    Average hair dresser salary

    $36,852yearly

    $17.72 hourly rate

    Entry-level hair dresser salary
    $25,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 13, 2025
  4. Writing a hair dresser job description

    A job description for a hair dresser role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a hair dresser job description:

    Hair dresser job description example

    American Health Communities, a division of Franklin, Tennessee-based American Health Partners Inc. operates 29 senior living, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers in Tennessee and Alabama. AHC specializes in caring for seniors by providing a full range of short-term and long-term healthcare in a home-like environment. For more information, visit .

    POSITION SUMMARY:

    This position is not paid by American Health Communities but will be contracted through the resident's family.

    The Hair Stylist will provide appropriate services to residents as requested by the administrator.

    ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

    To perform this job, an individual must accomplish each essential function satisfactorily, with or without a reasonable accommodation.

    • Provide services as requested

    • Ensure beauty shop surfaces are disinfected between each resident

    • Perform duties in accordance with COVID-19 Guidelines:

    o Wear a surgical face mask at all times

    o Residents must wear face mask at all times during the hair appointment, unless medically contraindicated

    o Residents must maintain 6 feet social distancing within the beauty shop

    o Perform hand hygiene before and after contact with each resident

    o Resident shall perform hand hygiene upon entry to the beauty shop

    o Remain in the salon area and avoid common areas of the facility

    o Stage appointments to maintain distancing of at least six (6) feet apart

    o Do not exceed fifty percent (50%) capacity

    • Other duties as agreed upon

    JOB REQUIREMENTS:

    • Successful completion of background screening

    • Successful completion of required training

    • Handle priorities effectively

    REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

    • Experience:

    o Related experience strongly preferred

    • License/Certification/Education:

    o Current state cosmetology licensure

    WORKING CONDITIONS:

    • Audio-Visual: Hearing: Good

    • Ability to lift to 15 pounds

    • Subject to standing, walking, sitting, bending, reaching, kneeling, pushing and pulling

    • Work is typically performed in a beauty parlor environment; well-lit; comfortable temperature-controlled

    • Above-average conversational noise is frequent

    • Position may require flexible hours, unscheduled overtime or occasional week-end work

    • Travel may be required

    The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    SAFETY EXPECTATIONS:

    • Work safely and follow safety rules

    • Report unsafe working conditions and behaviors

    • Take reasonable and prudent actions to prevent others from engaging in unsafe practices

    EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

    Our Organization does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or any other characteristic(s) protected by federal, state, and local laws. The Organization will also make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities should a request for an accommodation be made.

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right hair dresser for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your hair dresser job on Zippia to find and recruit hair dresser candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting hair dressers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new hair dresser

    Once you have selected a candidate for the hair dresser position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new hair dresser. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a hair dresser?

Before you start to hire hair dressers, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire hair dressers pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $36,852 per year for a hair dresser, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for hair dressers in the US typically range between $12 and $25 an hour.

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