Career Explorer Personal care
Human edge, growing
Shampooers
Shampoo and rinse customers' hair.
More resilient than most: more resilient than 79% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it low), and US jobs are projected to change by +5.6% by 2035, faster than average.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $32,600
- Job growth to 2035
- +5.6%
- Openings a year
- 2,200
- People doing it (2025)
- 15,400
- Usual route in
- No formal credential, then short on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Advise patients or clients on medical issues
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Apply hygienic or cosmetic agents to skin or hair
- Administer therapeutic treatments
- Maintain operational records
What the work looks like
- 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.
- Maintain treatment records.
- Treat scalp conditions and hair loss, using specialized lotions, shampoos, or equipment such as infrared lamps or vibrating equipment.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpersHuman edge, growing, Index 96, +5.3%
- Stockers and order fillersHuman edge, growing, Index 88, +8.9%
- Agricultural equipment operatorsHuman edge, growing, Index 98, +8.6%
- Taxi driversHuman edge, growing, Index 81, +11.5%
Also known as: Shampoo Assistant, Shampoo Technician, Shampooer, Stylist Assistant, Hair Assistant, Shampoo Person.
Is this career on your child's list?
Build a free Career Playbook matched to your child, or get a 90-day Action Plan with dated next steps, written for your child by name.
Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.