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Salon manager: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$48,560median pay per year, or $23.34 an hour, May 2025[2]
  1. $34,760lowest 10% earn less
  2. $39,40025th percentile
  3. $48,560median
  4. $62,32075th percentile
  5. $79,060top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Salon manager is one job title inside a broader BLS group called First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services[1]. That group had a median pay of $48,560 a year, and employment is projected to grow 5.3%[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.3%[3]
Openings per year
10,600[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do salon managers make?

The figures here cover the whole BLS group, not only salons. Hair Salon Manager and Salon Manager appear among the sample job titles workers report, next to titles such as Recreation Supervisor and Guest Services Manager[1].

The median wage for the group was $48,560 a year, or $23.34 an hour, in May 2025[2]. The average was $53,550 a year, or $25.75 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $34,760 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $39,400[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $62,320, and the top 10% earned more than $79,060[4]. Hourly boundaries were $16.71, $18.94, $29.96 and $38.01[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[10].

BLS counted about 103,190 wage and salary jobs[11]. These figures leave out self-employed workers, bonuses and benefits such as health insurance[12].

Measure Annual wage Source
Median[2] $48,560
Mean[8] $53,550
All occupations, median[5] $50,980

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median wage at $62,900, followed by the District of Columbia at $62,090 and Delaware at $59,790[13]. West Virginia had the lowest at $36,230[13].

California had the most jobs at 13,620, then Texas at 8,060 and Florida at 6,490[14]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median at $68,020[15]. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area had the most jobs at 5,060, with a median of $51,870[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[13]$62,9002,010
District of Columbia$62,090290
Delaware$59,790390
Maine$59,050320
Colorado$58,6404,150
Massachusetts$56,9902,700
Hawaii$55,700720
Alaska$54,530490
Connecticut$53,9801,820
California$53,62013,620
Wyoming$53,580200
New Hampshire$52,580750
New Jersey$52,3603,530
Vermont$51,510310
New York$51,3203,250
Minnesota$50,4101,800
Florida$50,1106,490
South Carolina$49,5501,680
Maryland$49,5101,680
Wisconsin$49,1001,620
North Carolina$49,0403,590
Kansas$48,8601,170
Oregon$48,7801,150
Nevada$48,1701,750
Montana$47,840500
Missouri$47,5301,190
Virginia$47,4103,060
Illinois$47,0204,270
Indiana$46,5601,760
Ohio$46,3104,280
North Dakota$46,220160
Rhode Island$46,080360
Pennsylvania$45,7603,730
Arizona$45,3502,410
Idaho$45,340580
Nebraska$44,910620
Utah$44,8701,730
Texas$44,6908,060
South Dakota$44,470210
Georgia$44,4003,100
Tennessee$44,0401,180
Michigan$43,5402,860
Alabama$43,4602,100
Mississippi$42,590590
Iowa$41,9501,340
Kentucky$41,870990
Louisiana$41,350750
Oklahoma$40,110740
New Mexico$37,220200
Arkansas$36,830540
West Virginia$36,230420

How to become a salon manager

The facts below describe the whole BLS group. They do not mention any license for salon work.

O*NET places the group in Job Zone 1-2, where some jobs need little or no previous experience and others need several months to a year[17].

What salon managers and similar supervisors do

These supervisors directly oversee and coordinate entertainment and recreation workers[18]. O*NET tasks include:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 109,300 to 115,100 jobs[3]. Employment across all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[20]. These counts include self-employed workers, who made up 3.1% of the group in 2025[3][21].

BLS projects about 10,600 openings a year on average[6]. Each year, 3.2% of workers leave the labor force and 5.6% move to a different occupation[22]. Openings count vacancies from workers who retire or change fields as well as new jobs[6].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay for this group was below the all-occupations median[2][5]. The entry education is a high school diploma, and related experience of less than 5 years is typical[7]. Employment is projected to grow faster than the all-occupations rate, and openings are expected each year[3][20][6]. Pay differs by state, so local figures matter[13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a salon manager make?
The BLS group that includes salon managers had a median wage of $48,560 a year, or $23.34 an hour, in May 2025[2][1].
What education do you need to be a salon manager?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education for this group, with related experience of less than 5 years[7].
Is the salon manager job in demand?
Employment in the group is projected to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, versus 3.5% for all occupations[3][20].
What is the highest paying state for salon managers?
Washington had the highest median wage for the group at $62,900[13].

Facts and sources

  1. O*NET 39-1014.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Caddymaster, Community Life Director, Guest Services Manager, Guest Services Supervisor, Hair Salon Manager, Recreation Coordinator, Recreation Supervisor, Salon Manager. O*NET OnLine
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services in the US was $48,560 per year and $23.34 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services is projected to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 109,300 to 115,100 jobs (a change of +5,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services: 10th percentile $34,760, 25th percentile $39,400, 75th percentile $62,320, 90th percentile $79,060. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 10,600 openings for First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services was $53,550 per year and $25.75 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services: 10th percentile $16.71, 25th percentile $18.94, 75th percentile $29.96, 90th percentile $38.01. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 103,190 people were employed as First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services jobs: California 13,620; Texas 8,060; Florida 6,490; Ohio 4,280; Illinois 4,270. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $68,020; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $65,820; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $62,550; Portland-South Portland, ME $61,760; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $61,190; Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $60,850; Greeley, CO $60,640; Boulder, CO $60,150. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 5,060 (median $51,870); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 4,550 (median $54,530); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,530 (median $48,390); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,400 (median $46,650); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 2,090 (median $57,660); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,060 (median $49,300). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. O*NET 39-1014.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET description of First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services. O*NET OnLine
  20. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS Employment Projections: 3.1% of First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services: 3.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.