What Does Compensation Look Like for a Career in Professional Beauty?
This is the question we’ve sought to answer as we conducted Phase 1 & 2 of the Pro Beauty Compensation Study. What started as a grassroots effort to help service providers better understand their compensation has quickly escalated in importance as media outlets have published more and more misinformation about earnings in the beauty and wellness industry. We came to learn that much of the data made available to the public about cosmetology pay and hours is alarming, shocking, flawed, or biased.
Why Does it Matter?
Much of the data being used does not tell the full story about a career in beauty. There’s a pervasive narrative that paints a very grim picture about earnings in beauty and wellness
$16,767
The Century Foundation analysis of earnings data from ‘the College Scorecard’
$29,670
Median annual wage for a hairdresser in the United States according to BLS.
What Can We Do With the Right Narrative?
Attract more talent to the industry
Retain great talent in your business
Make the industry a top career choice for young adults
Correct harmful negative perceptions
Study Phase & Evolution
The study was performed in phases as part of a long term effort to gain clarity and additional points of reference on salon compensation. Several principles guided us and informed our work. We listened and learned with each phase. We embraced being small so we could quickly evolve, getting closer and closer to quality data. We aimed for progress not perfection and transparency in all aspects of the study.
BETA PHASE
Q1 2022
The beta phase started as a small financial literacy project.
It was intended to help a group of small business owners (with 13 combined locations) educate their employees on how to fully understand their compensation.
PHASE ONE
Q2 2022
Beta findings led to the development of a methodology based on verifiable W2 data.
Phase 1 was a small, grass-roots study with no outside funding. To go fast, we went alone.
Results compelled us to dig even deeper.
PHASE TWO
Q3-4 2022
Grew to be industry-wide with substantial upgrades.
Biased, incomplete, and flawed data sources drove us to provide an additional point of reference.
Represented data from thousands of beauty industry professionals.
PHASE THREE
2023
Phase 3 will expand to include multiple studies. We will continue to advocate for all aspects of cosmetology.
We will gather data from additional segments of the workforce, including chain salons, day spas, franchises, and independents.
