
Meet the author
Rasmus Østergaard is editor and journalist at Just Add People. Rasmus is responsible for making useful information about the hairdressing profession and the beauty industry accessible to everyone.
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14. November 2024
A hairdresser typically earns between DKK 17,000 and 23,000 gross per month at the start of their career. Salary depends on experience, place of employment and any commission, which can vary considerably depending on the salon’s customer base. Experienced, qualified hairdressers typically earn around DKK 29,000 gross per month, while wigmakers are closer to DKK 25,000.
The minimum wage for qualified hairdressers is around DKK 154–157 per hour, depending on whether you are employed full-time or part-time. Always check the current collective agreement, as rates are adjusted regularly. Apprentice wages vary according to the stage of training, and several salons offer additional commission to those who have built up a regular clientele.
As a newly qualified hairdresser, you typically start at around DKK 130 per hour, plus any commission on product sales, depending on the salon. Your earnings increase as you gain experience and build a loyal clientele. It is rarely the starting salary that determines whether the profession pays off in the long term.
Most people I speak to say yes, and it is not just politeness. Creative freedom and daily contact with customers carry a lot of weight, even though the work is physically demanding. For most people, the joy of seeing a customer leave with a smile outweighs the physical strain.
Salary depends on experience, location and the size of the salon. Salons in larger cities often pay slightly more, especially when there is commission on sales. If you run your own salon, your earnings depend on your customer base and operating costs. This can provide a higher income, but also much greater fluctuations from month to month.
Apprentice wages typically increase for each year of training you complete. However, what you actually gain from the apprenticeship is rarely just the payslip. The experience and network you build along the way are what matter most for your future earnings. If you are considering the training itself, we have gathered the 4 pathways into hairdressing training here.
Typically between 37 and 40 hours a week, but this varies depending on the salon’s opening hours. Many salons have evening and weekend shifts, especially if you want to build up a regular clientele more quickly.
The training itself is a vocational education, so most costs are covered. You typically have to pay for your own scissors, combs and styling tools, and most hairdressers see this as an investment in a career that brings more job satisfaction than most other professions they could have chosen.
Salary is rarely the reason people stay in the profession; it is the freedom and contact with customers. But if you one day want to run your own salon and increase your income that way, it starts with the right equipment. View our hairdressing chairs, or write to me if you would like to discuss what it takes to get started.
Written by Rasmus Østergaard

Meet the author
Rasmus Østergaard is editor and journalist at Just Add People. Rasmus is responsible for making useful information about the hairdressing profession and the beauty industry accessible to everyone.