Shampooers
Shampooers (SOC 39-5093) earn a median $32,600 a year ($15.67 an hour) in the United States, with 8,070 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What shampooers do
Shampooers wash and rinse customers' hair. In practice that means massaging, shampooing, and conditioning a patron's hair and scalp to clean them and take off excess oil. When a patron has a chronic or possibly contagious scalp condition, the shampooer advises seeing a doctor. Some also treat scalp problems and hair loss with special lotions and shampoos or with equipment such as infrared lamps or vibrating devices. The job is narrow, built around a single step in hair care, in contrast to hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, who cut, color, and style. Titles that O*NET lists for the work include hair assistant, salon shampoo assistant, scalp treatment operator, and scalp treatment specialist. The tasks that define the code involve caring for hair and scalp, and the cutting and coloring of hair belong to other occupations.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a post-secondary certificate as the usual education level (about 68 percent).
Also called: Hair Assistant, Hair Shampoo Assistant, Salon Shampoo Assistant, Scalp Treatment Operator, Scalp Treatment Specialist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $11.11 | $13.72 | $15.67 | $17.09 | $18.39 | $15.37 | 8,070 |
| Annual | $23,110 | $28,550 | $32,600 | $35,550 | $38,240 | $31,980 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where shampooers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $17.84 | $18.39 | $18.69 | $18.80 | $18.81 | $18.57 | 210 | 0.30 | 5.79 |
| Annual | $37,100 | $38,240 | $38,870 | $39,100 | $39,120 | $38,620 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $16.85 | $17.83 | $17.83 | $17.83 | $18.08 | $17.84 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $35,040 | $37,080 | $37,080 | $37,080 | $37,600 | $37,110 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $15.50 | $16.49 | $17.82 | $19.58 | $19.58 | $17.66 | 1,210 | 0.13 | 2.40 |
| Annual | $32,240 | $34,300 | $37,070 | $40,720 | $40,720 | $36,730 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $15.00 | $15.33 | $16.78 | $17.51 | $18.55 | $16.70 | 500 | 0.18 | 3.49 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $31,880 | $34,900 | $36,420 | $38,580 | $34,740 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $15.00 | $15.87 | $16.75 | $17.28 | $17.36 | $16.55 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $31,200 | $33,010 | $34,840 | $35,940 | $36,120 | $34,420 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $15.50 | $16.49 | $17.82 | $19.58 | $19.58 | $17.66 | 1,210 | 0.13 | 2.40 |
| Annual | $32,240 | $34,300 | $37,070 | $40,720 | $40,720 | $36,730 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $9.46 | $10.34 | $12.56 | $15.02 | $16.34 | $12.92 | 1,000 | 0.17 | 3.19 |
| Annual | $19,690 | $21,520 | $26,130 | $31,230 | $34,000 | $26,880 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $8.75 | $12.31 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $13.36 | 840 | 0.06 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $18,200 | $25,600 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $27,790 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $10.31 | $11.28 | $13.25 | $14.68 | $17.62 | $13.65 | 690 | 0.14 | 2.73 |
| Annual | $21,430 | $23,450 | $27,560 | $30,530 | $36,650 | $28,390 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $15.49 | $15.82 | $15.95 | $18.09 | $22.78 | $17.50 | 690 | 0.16 | 3.11 |
| Annual | $32,220 | $32,910 | $33,180 | $37,620 | $47,370 | $36,390 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $15.94 | $16.49 | $18.09 | $19.58 | $19.58 | $18.04 | 1,410 | 0.15 | 2.87 |
| Annual | $33,160 | $34,300 | $37,620 | $40,720 | $40,720 | $37,530 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $13.79 | $14.79 | $17.50 | $18.76 | $19.02 | $16.92 | 580 | 0.19 | 3.57 |
| Annual | $28,680 | $30,760 | $36,410 | $39,020 | $39,550 | $35,200 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.00 | $15.00 | $17.30 | $17.30 | $17.30 | $16.22 | 230 | 0.05 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $31,200 | $35,990 | $35,990 | $35,990 | $33,730 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $15.00 | $16.60 | $17.23 | $17.31 | $17.42 | $16.77 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $31,200 | $34,520 | $35,830 | $36,000 | $36,240 | $34,880 | ||||
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | Hourly | $16.35 | $16.43 | $16.63 | $16.63 | $16.65 | $16.62 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $34,010 | $34,170 | $34,580 | $34,580 | $34,620 | $34,560 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $15.94 | $16.49 | $18.09 | $19.58 | $19.58 | $18.04 | 1,410 | 0.15 | 2.87 |
| Annual | $33,160 | $34,300 | $37,620 | $40,720 | $40,720 | $37,530 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $13.43 | $15.02 | $15.68 | $16.08 | $16.96 | $15.47 | 710 | 0.25 | 4.76 |
| Annual | $27,940 | $31,230 | $32,610 | $33,440 | $35,280 | $32,170 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $13.79 | $14.79 | $17.50 | $18.76 | $19.02 | $16.92 | 580 | 0.19 | 3.57 |
| Annual | $28,680 | $30,760 | $36,410 | $39,020 | $39,550 | $35,200 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $10.98 | $12.74 | $13.41 | $14.27 | $17.62 | $13.70 | 520 | 0.18 | 3.48 |
| Annual | $22,840 | $26,500 | $27,890 | $29,680 | $36,650 | $28,490 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $13.63 | $13.63 | $13.72 | $13.72 | $14.48 | $14.01 | 320 | 0.11 | 2.19 |
| Annual | $28,350 | $28,350 | $28,540 | $28,550 | $30,120 | $29,140 | ||||
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $24,440 for shampooers in May 2021 and $32,600 in May 2025, with employment of 9,560 and 8,070.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $24,440 | $11.75 | 9,560 |
| May 2022 | $27,860 | $13.40 | 7,480 |
| May 2023 | $29,530 | $14.20 | 7,360 |
| May 2024 | $31,470 | $15.13 | 8,890 |
| May 2025 | $32,600 | $15.67 | 8,070 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
20 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $18.69 | $38,870 | $37,100 | $39,120 | 210 | 0.30 | 5.79 |
| 2 | California profile | $17.83 | $37,080 | $35,040 | $37,600 | ** | ** | ** |
| 3 | New York profile | $17.82 | $37,070 | $32,240 | $40,720 | 1,210 | 0.13 | 2.40 |
| 4 | Maryland profile | $16.78 | $34,900 | $31,200 | $38,580 | 500 | 0.18 | 3.49 |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $16.75 | $34,840 | $31,200 | $36,120 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | Illinois profile | $16.44 | $34,190 | $31,200 | $35,990 | 240 | 0.04 | 0.77 |
| 7 | Connecticut profile | $16.35 | $34,010 | $34,010 | $34,580 | ** | ** | ** |
| 8 | New Jersey profile | $15.95 | $33,180 | $32,220 | $47,370 | 690 | 0.16 | 3.11 |
| 9 | Delaware profile | $15.46 | $32,150 | $31,200 | $35,890 | 200 | 0.42 | 8.02 |
| 10 | Texas profile | $15.00 | $31,200 | $18,200 | $31,200 | 840 | 0.06 | 1.16 |
| 11 | Oklahoma profile | $14.15 | $29,420 | $20,130 | $30,100 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.79 |
| 12 | Louisiana profile | $14.02 | $29,160 | $18,250 | $31,090 | ** | ** | ** |
| 13 | Virginia profile | $13.91 | $28,920 | $25,810 | $37,340 | 350 | 0.09 | 1.66 |
| 14 | Florida profile | $13.72 | $28,550 | $28,350 | $34,760 | 550 | 0.06 | 1.06 |
| 15 | Georgia profile | $13.25 | $27,560 | $21,430 | $36,650 | 690 | 0.14 | 2.73 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania profile | $12.56 | $26,130 | $19,690 | $34,000 | 1,000 | 0.17 | 3.19 |
| 17 | North Carolina profile | $12.51 | $26,030 | $22,880 | $29,250 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.35 |
| 18 | Michigan profile | $12.48 | $25,960 | $25,960 | $25,960 | ** | ** | ** |
| 19 | Tennessee profile | $11.61 | $24,160 | $21,940 | $28,070 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.21 |
| 20 | Alabama profile | $10.49 | $21,810 | $18,620 | $23,110 | ** | ** | ** |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (39-5090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Personal Care and Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 39-5093 Shampooers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 39-5093, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 39-5093.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.