Shampooers Salary
The median pay for a shampooers in Virginia is $28,920/year ($13.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $37K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $30,510 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 80.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $29K get you in Virginia?
About shampooers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Pay for shampooers in Virginia runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $33K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 81.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for shampooerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level shampooers (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $29K. Top earners bring in $37K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Shampooers salary by metro in Virginia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $27K | -5% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track shampooers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a shampooer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $29K, rent takes 81.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for shampooers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new shampooers typically earn — is $26K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,549/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 106% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is shampooer a high-paying job in Virginia?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $29K here vs. $33K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for shampooers?
Virginia pays $29K median vs. the U.S. average of $33K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $31K — below the national median.
How much do shampooers make in Virginia?
The median is $28,920 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,810, and experienced shampooers can clear $37,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $29K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,011/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 81.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a shampooers salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median shampooers salary is worth about $30,510 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do shampooers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.