How to hire a Stylist

How to hire a stylist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step stylist hiring guide:

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

What does a Stylist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the stylist you need to hire. Certain stylist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A stylist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, stylists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents stylist salaries for various positions.

   Type Of Stylist	Description	Hourly Rate
   Stylist	Barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists provide haircutting, hairstyling and a range of beauty services.	$12-25
   Nail Technician	Nail technicians are beauty specialists that provide grooming services to a client's fingernails and toenails. They are trained proficiently in filling, cleaning, and grooming as well as various nail treatments... Show More	$8-25
   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:

   • Good Time Management
   • POS
   • Data Entry
   • Excellent Training
   • Safety Standards
   • Product Knowledge
   • Cosmetology
   • Customer Service
   • Ongoing Development
   • Retail Products
   • Ladders
   • Sales Floor
   • Taking Care
   • Cleanliness

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage salon, payroll, purchasing and inventory utilizing corporate policies.
   • Manage cleaning up activities after hair care appointments by ensuring appropriate cleanliness and sterilization of cutting and trimming equipment.
   • Perform general receptionist tasks such as answering phones, using POS system, handling money transactions, and scheduling appointments.
   • Create personal``Lookbooks"for clients through social media.
   • Assist in marketing and social media via Instagram, Facebook and USD club meetings.
   • Contract great clips for service to hire temps on a temporary basis to assist shifts salons need.

   More Stylist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the stylist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A stylist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a stylist in Kentucky may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level stylist. Additionally, a stylist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average stylist salary

   $37,985yearly

   $18.26 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level stylist salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 25, 2025

   Average stylist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	Colorado	$46,195	$22
   2	California	$45,224	$22
   3	Minnesota	$44,884	$22
   4	Illinois	$43,034	$21
   5	New York	$42,396	$20
   6	Nebraska	$40,340	$19
   7	Wisconsin	$39,628	$19
   8	Missouri	$38,510	$19
   9	North Carolina	$37,985	$18
   10	Virginia	$37,865	$18
   11	Utah	$37,676	$18
   12	Arizona	$37,245	$18
   13	Florida	$37,150	$18
   14	Indiana	$36,044	$17
   15	Alabama	$35,092	$17
   16	Mississippi	$34,479	$17
   17	Pennsylvania	$34,466	$17
   18	Tennessee	$34,366	$17
   19	Ohio	$34,358	$17
   20	South Carolina	$34,083	$16

   Average stylist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Columbia International University	$60,277	$28.98
   2	Catholic Health Care System	$51,678	$24.85	1
   3	REVOLVE	$51,615	$24.81
   4	Living Spaces Furniture	$48,341	$23.24	13
   5	David Yurman	$47,832	$23.00
   6	SSM Health	$47,126	$22.66	5
   7	Umpqua Indian Development Corporation	$43,084	$20.71
   8	Wedding Shoppe	$41,428	$19.92
   9	Windsor Fashions	$41,299	$19.86	582
   10	Heritage Operations Group	$41,218	$19.82	2
   11	Quad	$39,957	$19.21
   12	Stiles	$39,540	$19.01	1
   13	Columbia Sportswear	$39,473	$18.98
   14	The Lash Lounge	$39,464	$18.97	66
   15	Luxe	$39,098	$18.80
   16	Pigtails & Crewcuts	$38,451	$18.49	161
   17	Qurate Retail	$38,229	$18.38	1
   18	Horizon House	$38,207	$18.37
   19	BUCK	$38,158	$18.35	69
   20	Mattel	$37,842	$18.19	5

4. Writing a Stylist Job Description

   A stylist 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a stylist job description:

   Stylist job description example

   Make up to $30 an hour plus tips!

   At Hair Cuttery Family of Brands, you are not just a Hairstylist…you are a Salon Professional! Salon Professionals provide guests with a world-class hair experience starting from the moment they step into our salons offering a full menu of cutting, coloring, waxing, and texture services with or without an appointment.

   Your Benefits include:

   • Up To 75% Commissions and Advanced Career Growth Opportunities

   • Free Advanced Education

   • Flexible Scheduling Availability

   • Medical, Dental, & Vision Benefits

   • Health Savings Account

   • Life & Disability Insurance

   • 401K

   • Vacation & PTO

   • Career Advancement & Performance Awards

   What makes us different?

   • EXCELLENT COMMISSION AND CAREER GROWTH

   We have a tiered level system that allows you to advance your career from

   Stylist to Master Designer and earn strong commission based on productivity.

   • TOP EDUCATION

   Increase your knowledge as well as your earnings with continuing education from

   in-house trainers and Redken professionals. That’s right…free advanced

   education!

   • CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY

   Our exclusive stylist app makes it easy for you to grow and track your

   business, appointments, and income.

   Salon Professional Requirements:

   • Current cosmetology or barber license applicable to state requirements

   • Must have a passion for people and providing exceptional customer service

   • Able and willing to work various schedules including evenings, weekends and holidays

   • Ability to show technical skill-set in terms of layered cuts, clipper cuts and basic color application

   • Eligible to work in the United States

   Do you want to be a part of a fun, fashion-forward team?

   We welcome both new and experienced Salon Professionals.

   For new stylists, we have a plentiful walk-in business to build

   your book and guest loyalty.

   For experienced stylists, we have 8 tiers ranging from Stylist to

   Master Designer for placement if you’re able to provide proof of your book and

   weekly productivity. Price points increase with each level allowing you to

   advance your career and grow your earnings.

   At the Hair Cuttery Family of Brands, you can build a Career for

   Life!

   The Hair Cuttery Family of Brands provides Equal Employment

   Opportunities (EEO) to all applicants.

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find stylists 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 stylist job on Zippia to find and recruit stylist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with stylist 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.

   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 stylist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the stylist 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.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new stylist 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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How much does it cost to hire a stylist?