What a stylist

💵 What a Stylist

Should Be Making

Today

1. Hourly Equivalent

   
   

   • Considering skill, responsibility, and overhead, a stylist should not be making less than $50–$75/hr.

   • Specialists (extensions, balayage, luxury blonding, corrective color) should be in the $100–$200/hr range.

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3. Weekly Take-Home (after expenses)

   
   

   • A full-time stylist (30–35 hrs behind the chair) should be clearing $2,500–$4,500/week.

   • That puts annual income in the $120,000–$200,000+ range, which aligns with the cost of living, rising product expenses, and the professional standard of beauty work.

4. 
   

5. Profit Margin

   
   

   • Color product costs have jumped drastically (lightener, toner, treatments, etc.), plus salon supplies.

   • To stay sustainable, service pricing should maintain at least a 70% profit margin after product costs. Example:

     
     

     • If a balayage costs $35 in product, the service price should be $150–$250 minimum (depending on market and expertise).

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7. Additional Income Streams

   
   

   • Retail sales (10–20% of income should come from take-home products).

   • Digital education / virtual tutorials / online courses if the stylist has a teaching side.

   • Add-ons like treatments, glosses, scalp rituals to boost ticket average.

8.