How to hire a salon assistant

How to hire a salon assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step salon assistant hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The salon assistant 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?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect salon assistant 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.

   Here's a comparison of salon assistant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Salon Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Salon Assistant	Barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists provide haircutting, hairstyling and a range of beauty services.	$8-17
   Licensed Cosmetologist	A Licensed Cosmetologist provides various services, such as hairstyling, skincare, nail treatments, and makeup. They are responsible for complying with health and safety standards.	$11-25
   Hair Dresser	A hairdresser, also known as a hairstylist or beautician, is a person who specializes in the cutting or styling of hair with the goal of enhancing a person's appearance. As a hairdresser, your duties may range from cutting, washing, and styling to hair coloring and employing hair texturing techniques... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PET
   • Cleanliness
   • Customer Service
   • Appointment Scheduling
   • Front Desk
   • Makeup
   • Product Knowledge
   • Client Appointments
   • Clients Hair
   • Manage Inventory
   • Retail Products
   • Departmental Policies
   • Telephone Calls
   • Administrative Tasks

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain salon appearance ensuring cleanliness, organization and manage inventory of salon products.
   • Color, bleach, perm and relax hair.
   • Assist in blow drying clients hair by holding hair dryers and brushes in place.
   • Maintain and style wigs and hair pieces for the production shows through grooming techniques.
   • Assist clients with consultations on products, braids, lock maintenance and other desire styles.
   • Assist in blow drying and styling activities by holding dryers and brushes and clips in place.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your salon assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A salon assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, salon assistants' average salary in new mexico is 50% less than in vermont.
   • Seniority. Entry-level salon assistants earn 51% less than senior-level salon assistants.
   • Certifications. A salon assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a salon assistant's salary.

   Average salon assistant salary

   $12.54hourly

   $26,083 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level salon assistant salary

   $18,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a salon assistant job description

   A salon assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a salon assistant job description:

   Salon assistant job description example

   We are looking for a friendly, outgoing individual to work in our salon. The days needed are variable during the week but you
   MUST be available Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays (when the salon reopens on that day), weekday holidays when school is out, Spring Break, Fall Break, Winter Break, etc. You will have ample notice of when you will be needed in addition to the weekend shifts. Average workload will be 20-30 hours.
   
   The ideal candidate is someone who has excellent customer service skills as well as previous experience working as a receptionist.
   
   Responsibilities include greeting guests as they enter, checking clients in for appointments, scheduling appointments, checking out customers, and assisting in various salon duties with an emphasis on cleaning and sanitization. You will also host birthday parties that take place in our salon as well as get the party set up and coordinate the activities so that everything stays on track.
   
   Compensation: $10.00 per hour
   
   Pigtails & Crewcuts is a high-quality children's salon dedicated to providing a fun and comfortable experience for everyone. Mom & dad can rest easy in our clean, safe, and professional facilities designed to fit the individual needs of each child. Our stylists are trained to work with children and specialize in haircuts for boys & girls of all ages, trend-setting hair fashions, themed parties, and retail product-lines specifically created for kids. Each salon is designed with our most important customer in mind. We have themed & adult styling chairs, "mom chairs" at each styling station, age appropriate movies playing throughout the day, video game consoles, party room, a train table, toys, and retail offerings including hair accessories & hair care products.
   
   Each salon is locally owned & operated, and our family approach has made us one of the most respected children's hair salon franchises in the country.
   
   Do you love kids? Do you love cutting and styling hair? Then we would love to meet you! We have over 50 salons across the country, and we're always on the lookout for talented stylists with a knack for kids cuts.
   
   This franchise is independently owned and operated by a franchisee. Your application will go directly to the franchisee, and all hiring decisions will be made by the management of this franchisee. All inquiries about employment at this franchisee should be made directly to the franchisee, and not to Pigtails & Crewcuts Corporate.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find salon assistants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your salon assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit salon assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with salon assistant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   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 salon assistant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the salon assistant 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.

   To prepare for the new salon assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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