Personal Care and Service · Career brief

Shampooers

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Shampooers at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$32,600

Lower national median pay

2025 national median. Bottom quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

5.6%

Steady projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top quarter for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

2,200

Relatively fewer openings

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

No formal credential

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

No formal educational credential. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Massage, shampoo, and condition patron's hair and scalp to clean them and remove excess oil.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (15,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is growth; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with entry without a formal credential. Main tradeoff: This is a small national occupation (15,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median…

Before choosing, compare:Amusement and Recreation Attendants Motion Picture Projectionists Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Shampooers with another field Explore rankings in Personal Care and Service Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$32,600

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

5.6%employment growth2,200openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

No formal educational credential; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

15,400

A small national occupation; local availability may be uneven.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Shampooers (39-5093).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Massage, shampoo, and condition patron's hair and scalp to clean them and remove excess oil.
Advise patrons with chronic or potentially contagious scalp conditions to seek medical treatment.
Treat scalp conditions and hair loss, using specialized lotions, shampoos, or equipment such as infrared lamps or vibrating equipment.
Maintain treatment records.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (15,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.
Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.
The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.8
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.8
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public3.7
Assisting and Caring for Others3.5
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships3.3

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic5.5
Social3.8
Conventional3.4
Enterprising2.5
Artistic1.6
Investigative1.4

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Sales and Marketing Public Safety and Security Chemistry Psychology

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Volunteer in a structured, supervised role long enough to learn whether sustained responsibility for other people's needs feels meaningful or draining.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Shampooers nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Speaking, Active Listening, Monitoring among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options