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Salon assistant vs hair dresser

The differences between salon assistants and hair dressers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a salon assistant and a hair dresser. Additionally, a hair dresser has an average salary of $36,852, which is higher than the $26,083 average annual salary of a salon assistant.

The top three skills for a salon assistant include PET, cleanliness and customer service. The most important skills for a hair dresser are appointment scheduling, customer service, and product sales.

Salon assistant vs hair dresser overview

Salon AssistantHair Dresser
Yearly salary$26,083$36,852
Hourly rate$12.54$17.72
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs23,58542,777
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%High School Diploma, 46%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

Salon assistant vs hair dresser salary

Salon assistants and hair dressers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Salon AssistantHair Dresser
Average salary$26,083$36,852
Salary rangeBetween $18,000 And $37,000Between $25,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between salon assistant and hair dresser education

There are a few differences between a salon assistant and a hair dresser in terms of educational background:

Salon AssistantHair Dresser
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%High School Diploma, 46%
Most common majorCosmetologyCosmetology
Most common college--

Salon assistant vs hair dresser demographics

Here are the differences between salon assistants' and hair dressers' demographics:

Salon AssistantHair Dresser
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 12.6% Female, 87.4%Male, 6.1% Female, 93.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.9% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 7.2% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between salon assistant and hair dresser duties and responsibilities

Salon assistant example 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.
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Hair dresser example 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.
  • Show more

Salon assistant vs hair dresser skills

Common salon assistant skills
  • PET, 22%
  • Cleanliness, 16%
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Appointment Scheduling, 10%
  • Front Desk, 7%
  • Makeup, 3%
Common hair dresser skills
  • Appointment Scheduling, 28%
  • Customer Service, 22%
  • Product Sales, 8%
  • Curling Irons, 6%
  • Front Desk, 6%
  • Skin Care, 6%

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