How to become a hairdressing and beauty salon manager or proprietor
Official title: Hairdressing and beauty salon managers and proprietors
Also called: Manager, Spa manager, Shop manager, Barber's manager, Beauty studio owner, Hairdresser's manager, Hairdressing salon owner
Hairdressing and beauty salon managers and proprietors plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the activities and resources of hairdressing and nail salons, beauty treatment, pet grooming and similar establishments.
Main tasks
- Determines staffing, financial, material and other short- and long-term needs
- Controls the allocation, training and remuneration of staff
- Provides clients with information and advice on styles and treatments, and resolves any complaints or problems
- Ensures clients’ records are maintained
- Undertakes and/or directs hair treatments and/or beauty therapy
- Checks and maintains any equipment, and ensures that all safety requirements are met
- Demonstrates, advises on and sells hair and/or beauty products
- Ensures financial accounts for the business are maintained
How to become one
No formal qualifications are required for entry although entrants usually possess a BTEC/SQA award, an NVQ/SVQ in Hairdressing at level 3, an apprenticeship and/or relevant experience.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £29,715 a year
- About 19,800 people work in this job now, and about 22,900 are projected by 2035. (+15.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a hairdressing and beauty salon manager or proprietor?
No formal qualifications are required for entry although entrants usually possess a BTEC/SQA award, an NVQ/SVQ in Hairdressing at level 3, an apprenticeship and/or relevant experience.
How much does a hairdressing and beauty salon manager or proprietor earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £29,715 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a hairdressing and beauty salon manager or proprietor a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 16% by 2035, from about 19,800 to about 22,900 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a hairdressing and beauty salon manager or proprietor?
Usually not. Only 18% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03