Shampooers earn a median of $32,600 per year ($15.67/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 5.6% through 2035, with about 2,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 39-5093
- Personal Care and Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Shampooer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $32,600a year, or $15.67/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $23KTop 10% $38K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.6%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,20015,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202515.4K
- Projected 203516.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 15.4K Projected 2035 16.2K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school13.1%
- High school18.4%
- Certificate67.6%
- Some college1.1%
Highest education held by shampooers Segment Value Less than high school 13.1% High school 18.4% Certificate 67.6% Some college 1.1%
Also advertised as: Hair Assistant, Shampoo Assistant, Shampoo Person, Shampoo Technician, Shampooer, Stylist Assistant.
Pay
How much do Shampooers make?
Every shampooer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$32,600
Middle half earn $28,550 to $35,550
- 10th
- $23,110
- 25th
- $28,550
- 75th
- $35,550
- 90th
- $38,240
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $23,110 |
| 25th | $28,550 |
| Median | $32,600 |
| 75th | $35,550 |
| 90th | $38,240 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $32,600
- Median hourly wage
- $15.67/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $31,980
- People employed
- 8,070
Versus all US occupations
At $32,600, Shampooers earn 36% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $18,380 a year.
Versus personal care and service occupations
Inside the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120, this is 14% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $38,240 or more while the bottom 10% earn $23,110, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 0% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $38,870, and still leads at $35,368 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Shampooers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $38,870 | $35,368 | 210 |
| 2California | $37,080 | $33,490 | N/A |
| 3New York | $37,070 | $34,349 | 1,210 |
| 4Maryland | $34,900 | $33,251 | 500 |
| 5Massachusetts | $34,840 | $32,943 | N/A |
| 6Illinois | $34,190 | $34,204 | 240 |
| 7Connecticut | $34,010 | $32,825 | N/A |
| 8New Jersey | $33,180 | $30,495 | 690 |
| 9Delaware | $32,150 | $32,212 | 200 |
| 10Texas | $31,200 | $32,146 | 840 |
Job outlook
Is Shampooer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Shampooers | +5.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Shampooers to change 5.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,200 openings are projected each year, 14.3% of the 15,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Shampooer
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as shampooers.
- Post-Secondary Certificate67.6%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)18.4%
- Less than a High School Diploma13.1%
- Some College Courses1.1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 67.6% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 18.4% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 13.1% |
| Some College Courses | 1.1% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Shampooer do?
Shampoo and rinse customers' hair.
Day-to-day tasks
- Massage, shampoo, and condition patron's hair and scalp to clean them and remove excess oil.
- Advise patrons with chronic or potentially contagious scalp conditions to seek medical treatment.
- Treat scalp conditions and hair loss, using specialized lotions, shampoos, or equipment such as infrared lamps or vibrating equipment.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking3.3
- Active Listening3.1
- Monitoring2.8
- Reading Comprehension2.5
- Critical Thinking2.5
- Writing2.4
- Active Learning2.3
- Learning Strategies2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.3 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.5 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.5 |
| Writing | 2.4 |
| Active Learning | 2.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Coordination2.8
- Judgment and Decision Making2.5
- Time Management2.5
- Persuasion2.4
- Negotiation2.3
- Instructing2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Coordination | 2.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.5 |
| Time Management | 2.5 |
| Persuasion | 2.4 |
| Negotiation | 2.3 |
| Instructing | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Electronic mail software
- Internet browser software
- Inventory management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Shampooer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Shampooer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Realistic5.5
- Social3.8
- Conventional3.4
- Enterprising2.5
- Artistic1.6
- Investigative1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Shampooer
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Healthcare Support
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
Makeup Artist, Theatrical and Performance
$97,150median a year
Most earn $23K to $167K
+6.1%Certificate
More personal care and service careers
Median annual pay, with shampooers highlighted
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,160
- Concierge$38,950
- Tour Guide and Escort$38,120
- Hairstylist$35,790
- Manicurist and Pedicurist$35,760
- Nanny$34,980
- Childcare Worker$34,980
- Gambling Dealer$34,320
- Shampooer$32,600
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $47,160 |
| Concierge | $38,950 |
| Tour Guide and Escort | $38,120 |
| Hairstylist | $35,790 |
| Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 |
| Nanny | $34,980 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 |
| Shampooer | $32,600 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Shampooer appears on
Questions
Shampooer: frequently asked questions
How much do Shampooers make?
Shampooers earn a median of $32,600 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 36% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $15.67/hr. The middle half earn between $28,550 and $35,550. The top 10% earn $38,240 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Shampooer?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Shampooers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 67.6% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Shampooer a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.6% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Shampooer do?
Shampoo and rinse customers' hair. A core O*NET task: massage, shampoo, and condition patron's hair and scalp to clean them and remove excess oil. Employers most often ask for Web page creation and editing software.
Which states pay Shampooers the most?
The highest state medians for Shampooers are District of Columbia ($38,870), California ($37,080), New York ($37,070) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Shampooer?
O*NET scores Shampooers highest on the Realistic, Social and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.