The Blowout: Vol. 4
Hey, you 👋
Quick question: when a salon offers you a number, do you know if it's actually a good one?
This issue is basically everything we wish someone had told us before that conversation. Pay structures, real numbers, what's negotiable even when they say it isn't.
Let's get into it.
3 things to know before you negotiate your first salon salary
Most people walk into that conversation hoping for the best. Here's how to actually prepare for it.
Hourly / team-based pays you for every hour you're in the building, not just chair time. More predictable than commission, which matters when your book isn't full yet.
Know your floor:
Licensed stylists in Boston are averaging $18–$26/hour right now. NYC runs $17–$24/hour. Anything offered close to minimum wage ($15 in MA, $16 in NYC) is below market. Don't accept it without pushing back.
And don't just take the hourly and leave. Ask about performance bonuses; when the salon hits its monthly goal, do you see a cut of that too? Or, if you hit ____(xyz goal), does your ___? A salon that says no to that conversation is telling you something.
Commission-based
Means you earn a cut of what you bring in; typically 40% to 50% on services. If they won't move on that percentage, shift the conversation. Ask for a higher retail commission, or a sliding scale where your rate bumps up once you hit a weekly revenue target. That framing works because it ties your raise to their growth.
Booth rental means you're a tenant.
You pay a flat weekly fee and keep everything else. But that "everything else" part deserves a closer look. Some suites include backbar, cleaning services, or equipment (huge if you're an esti), and some don't. Before you sign anything, ask exactly what's covered. Then actually do the math: weekly rent plus whatever you're covering out of pocket adds up fast, and the "cheaper" suite isn't always the cheaper option.
Also negotiate grace weeks, vacation weeks where rent is waived. And ask what marketing support the salon provides. Some owners will post your work to their account. That's worth something.
We went to LIBS. And we sent some goodies.
The SalonJobs team showed up (in spirit, at least and with fabulous swag) at the Long Island Beauty School career fair last week. We invited the students to our Resume Workshop, where we will help them build a real resume and tighten up their social media presence so their Instagram actually works for their job search.
Want us to come to your school next? Drop the name below and we'll make it happen.
👉 Want us at your school?
Your resume just got a glow up.
Here's the thing… you're talented, you're polished, you show up for your clients every single time. But if your resume doesn't reflect that? A salon owner will never know.
We spent a lot of time figuring out exactly what gets people noticed, and then we rebuilt our Resume Builder around that. New color options so it actually feels like you. Better prompts that pull out everything you've already done and make it sound as good as it actually is. You just show up as yourself; we handle the rest.
Five minutes. That's really all it takes.
Before you go…
Negotiating. Resume-ing. Showing up. Yeah, it's a lot; especially when you're just getting started.
But that's what we're here for. Think of us as your job search bestie who actually knows the industry. You shouldn't have to figure this out alone, and with us in your inbox every two weeks, you won't have to.
See you soon.