Salon managers are super important in the beauty and wellness world, which is worth a massive $47 billion in 2023. But what exactly does it mean to run a salon well? Before we talk about salaries and trends, let’s first get what salon managers do. In the changing beauty industry, these folks are like the conductors of a well-organized orchestra, making sure salons, spas, and beauty spots run smoothly.
In this article, “The Future of Salon Manager Salaries: Trends and Projections,” we will look at the cool new things shaping how much salon managers get paid. We’ll talk about tech, what customers like, and how big events around the world matter. All these ideas will help us determine what’s coming next for salon managers and how they can be ready for whatever’s ahead.
The Role of a Salon Manager
A Salon Manager is a crucial leader in a beauty spot’s smooth operation. They handle a bunch of tasks, like making sure everything runs each day, making customers happy, and dealing with money matters. Picture them as the center of the salon, making sure all the parts and people work together smoothly so clients have a great time. This job needs good organization, being friendly, and an understanding of both the beauty world and how businesses work. More than just appointments and staff, Salon Managers create a cozy space where clients can relax and take care of themselves, all while keeping the business making money and growing.
Key Responsibilities of a Salon Manager
Understanding the role is just the tip of the iceberg. Delving deeper, salon managers wear many hats. From hiring and training staff to ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, their plate is full of diverse tasks:
- Hiring and Training Staff: Salon managers recruit talented stylists, receptionists, and other roles. They also conduct new employee training and ongoing coaching.
- Managing Inventory: Keeping track of product inventory and reordering items promptly is a key duty.
- Setting and Achieving Sales Targets: Managers develop plans to meet the salon’s revenue goals through promotions, customer retention tactics, and more.
- Ensuring Regulatory Compliance: Salon operations must comply with OSHA and state board regulations. Managers ensure the business meets all requirements.
The Importance of Effective Salon Management
With such a vast array of responsibilities, it’s clear that effective salon management isn’t just about running the day-to-day operations. Forbes suggests that adept salon management can lead to a 20% increase in customer retention. But why is this retention so crucial?
- Greater retention means more repeat customers and word-of-mouth marketing. This steady stream of clients is the lifeblood of a thriving salon.
- Loyal customers who get consistent service from stylists they know and trust tends to spend more over time. Higher spending per customer directly translates to higher revenues.
- With established processes that wow clients, the salon can spend less time attracting new customers and focus more on scaling the business.
Given the pivotal role salon managers play, it’s only fitting that their compensation reflects their value. However, just as responsibilities can vary, so can salaries.
Regional Variations in Salon Manager Salaries
While the average salary for a salon manager in the U.S. stands at $43,893, those in bustling hubs like New York can command wages as high as $57,447—the highest in the U.S. according to Zippia.
Regional factors like cost of living, competition, and demand for services impact salaries. Urban hubs with a huge clientele pool tend to have the highest pay. Rural and suburban areas offer less compensation but lower costs and potentially better work-life balance.
While the average salary gives us a baseline, salon managers naturally wonder – how much do salon managers make in my area? Resources like Homebase’s guide on salaries provide localized ranges across states.
Besides location, experience level, salon size, and compensation structure i.e. salary vs commission also impact pay significantly. While the above figures reflect the average, an established manager at a large luxury salon could make far more.
Projected Growth Trends
Thus far, we’ve covered the current salary landscape for salon managers in the U.S. But how does the future look? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for salon managers is projected to grow 13% from 2018 to 2028—faster than the national average.
Several factors contribute to this uptrend:
- Growing demand for salon services like hair, skin, and nail care as consumers increasingly focus on self-care and pampering.
- Retiring baby boomers leaving openings for new salon managers to step in.
- Lower entry barriers compared to other small business management roles.
To put this in perspective, here is how the projected growth for salon managers compares:
The outlook for salon managers outperforms retail store management. And while medical office management is seeing faster growth, the educational requirements are more rigorous. In short, rising demand for salon services and high turnover due to retirement make this an attractive career path. Especially when compared to other entry-level management roles.
Factors Influencing Future Earnings
While strong growth in salon manager jobs is encouraging, how will salaries trend? Industry experts highlight the below factors as key influencers:
Overall Salon Industry Health
During economic downturns, consumers tend to cut back on discretionary services like salon visits. This leads to reduced earnings and salaries industry-wide. The post-pandemic rebound has been favorable so far but broader recessions could slow future wage growth.
Technological Advancements
Tools for appointment management, inventory, payroll, and more are streamlining administrative work for salon managers. While reducing manual effort, technology is raising the bar for skill sets like analytics. Salaries will grow for managers who leverage tech adeptly.
Professional Development
Seeking additional training and certifications in areas like human resources, inventory management, and data analysis can boost career advancement and pay. Continued learning is especially critical given rapid digitalization.
Expert Predictions on Future Earnings
We’ve covered a lot of ground when it comes to data-driven insights on salon manager salary trends. But what are industry experts forecasting based on real-world observations?
Patrick Simpson, head of the Professional Beauty Association, shared a perspective at a recent conference:
“With turnover due to retirement, there will be a major shortage of seasoned salon managers. Coupled with the fast-growing demand for salon services, this will drive wages upward. I expect to see average salaries cross $50k in most markets within 5 years.”
Meanwhile, Lisa Johnson of Salon Success Academy had a slightly different take:
“Growth will remain positive but uneven across regions. Urban, high-end salons will see manager salaries rise due to a boom in luxury beauty services. However, rural and suburban markets face saturation and slowing demand. Mature markets like California may see slower wage growth unless there’s an influx of population.”
Regardless of the region, both experts emphasized the importance of continued learning and keeping pace with trends. Especially as technology impacts day-to-day management.
Frequently Asked Questions on Salon Manager Salaries
Are salon manager jobs currently in demand?
Yes, largely driven by high retirement turnover and a growing salon industry. The BLS projects a 13% growth in salon manager jobs from 2018 to 2028.
How do salon manager salaries compare to other beauty industry roles?
Salon managers earn approximately 25% more than hair stylists and nearly twice as much as manicurists according to BLS data. Their income surpasses most non-managerial salon roles.
What skills can boost a salon manager’s salary?
Advanced expertise in marketing, human resources, inventory management, data analysis, and financial management all make managers more valuable. Ongoing certifications and training are key.
Key Takeaways
The salon industry is projected to grow steadily, fueling demand for qualified managers to oversee operations. While the national average hovers around $45,000, salaries can vary widely by region, experience, and work setting.
Ongoing training and certifications will be crucial to managing operational changes due to digitalization. Salon managers that keep pace with the latest best practices in their field will be positioned for the highest earnings and career advancement. While economic factors can cause temporary dips, the long-term outlook for salon managers is strong. For those seeking a dynamic management career with ample growth opportunities, this role offers much to explore.
