What is a stylist assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
Kathy Grant
introduction image
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a stylist assistant. For example, did you know that they make an average of $17.69 an hour? That's $36,793 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 11% and produce 65,000 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a Stylist Assistant?

K

Kathy GrantKathy Grant LinkedIn Profile

Instructor, Cosmetology, Guilford Technical Community College

Research salons and make sure that you pick one that is willing to help advance and improve on the skills you have acquired in school. Continuing education should be relevant to them. Don't be afraid to start as an assistant. Make sure the salon is a good fit for you financially. Some salons offer hourly pay while others offer commission or booth rent. And lastly, there are so many directions you can go in with your degree. You are not limited to working in a salon behind a chair.
ScoreStylist AssistantUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $36,793

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.6

Growth Rate 11%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.55%

Asian 7.58%

Black or African American 12.55%

Hispanic or Latino 19.31%

Unknown 4.30%

White 55.71%

Gender

female 86.55%

male 13.45%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress Level
5.6

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.5

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Stylist Assistant career paths

Key steps to become a stylist assistant

  1. Explore stylist assistant education requirements

    Most common stylist assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    38.1 %

    High School Diploma

    26.0 %

    Associate

    17.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific stylist assistant skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Customer Service24.79%
    Appointment Scheduling14.13%
    Photo Shoots11.91%
    Salon Services9.33%
    Front Desk9.13%
  3. Complete relevant stylist assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New stylist assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a stylist assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real stylist assistant resumes.
  4. Research stylist assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage beautiful hairstyles with the use of flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers, and other hair products.
    • Use and understand cosmetology terminology.
    • Perform cosmetology procedures for customers on a daily basis.
    • Provide hairstylist services/professional makeup/manicures/pedicures and modeling.
  5. Prepare your stylist assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your stylist assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a stylist assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Stylist Assistant Resume templates

    Build a professional Stylist Assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Stylist Assistant resume.
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
    Stylist Assistant Resume
  6. Apply for stylist assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a stylist assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Stylist Assistant Job

Zippi

Are you a Stylist Assistant?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average stylist assistant salary

The average Stylist Assistant salary in the United States is $36,793 per year or $18 per hour. Stylist assistant salaries range between $25,000 and $53,000 per year.

Average Stylist Assistant Salary
$36,793 Yearly
$17.69 hourly

What Am I Worth?

Loading...
Loading...
salary-calculator

How do stylist assistants rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Stylist Assistant reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2021
Pros

I luv to shampoo n work with clients

Cons

Small rate.😜 not much that I don’t like , as long I work with good co workers.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Cons

Working all weekends, being in tons of social interactions a day, high stress situations, work comes home with you, getting criticism online, lots of disinfection and cleaning, lots of interaction with coworkers. Some days at work I want To go hide in the bathroom to avoid anymore social interaction and stress from dealing with the public all day.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Talking to people and making tips and getting your hair done for free

Cons

Put up with people smelly brats put up with verbal abuse and having customers take advantage of you


Working as a Stylist Assistant? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall Rating*
Career Growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse personal care and attendants jobs