A salon owner in Dubai usually pays a base salary plus commission, and the base differs a lot between roles. This guide puts the main salon roles side by side as market estimates in AED per month, explains what moves the number and what the employer pays on top of the salary.
Talk to usMarket estimate in AED per month for a full-time specialist in a private salon in Dubai. Ranges are orientation, not a rate card: the exact figure depends on experience, languages, the salon level and the package. Where a role is paid with commission, the range is the base and the commission comes on top.
| Role | Typical level | AED per month |
|---|---|---|
| Hair stylist | entry to experienced | 4,000 - 7,500 |
| Hair colorist | base plus commission | 5,000 - 8,000 |
| Senior colorist | own client base | 8,000 - 12,000 |
| Nail technician | entry to experienced | 3,000 - 5,500 |
| Esthetician | entry to experienced | 4,000 - 7,500 |
| Lash technician | base plus commission | 4,000 - 6,000 |
| Brow artist | base plus commission | 4,000 - 6,000 |
| Makeup artist | base plus commission | 4,000 - 7,000 |
| Waxing specialist | base plus commission | 3,000 - 5,000 |
| Laser technician | base plus commission | 6,000 - 9,000 |
| Salon receptionist or administrator | front desk, bookings, payments | 3,500 - 5,500 |
| Salon manager | entry to experienced | 8,000 - 15,000 |
Most masters in Dubai salons are not paid a flat salary only. A base covers the person's living costs and commission rewards the work they bring in. The split is the owner's decision and should be written in the contract before the first day.
Two masters with the same title can sit several thousand dirhams apart. These are the usual reasons.
The front desk and the manager decide how many calls become bookings and how many clients come back, so the salary of these roles repays itself quickly when the person is good.
Salary is not the full cost of a master. Add these items when you plan the payroll and compare offers.
TLNT is a hiring consultancy. For salons in Dubai we help an employer decide which roles the salon needs, set the package as a market estimate, check portfolios and run a practical skills assessment on a model. The employer makes the hiring decision, and the visa is arranged by the employer: we provide a step-by-step checklist.
Our fee is fixed for each role and agreed before the search starts. A 10% prepayment of the fee starts the search, the rest is due once the person has started work. If it does not work out, we find a replacement free of charge; the period is set in the contract. Consulting and CRM projects are priced after a free review.
Market estimate: a hair stylist earns about 4,000 - 7,500 AED per month and a colorist about 5,000 - 8,000 AED, with a senior colorist at 8,000 - 12,000 AED. A nail technician earns about 3,000 - 5,500 AED. Many roles are paid as a base plus commission, so the total depends on how many clients the master serves.
Market estimate: an esthetician in a salon earns about 4,000 - 7,500 AED per month, and a senior one can reach 9,000 AED or more. A laser technician earns about 6,000 - 9,000 AED plus commission. A licensed aesthetic physician is a different category and is paid much more, see our doctor salary guide.
Most salons combine both: a base that covers living costs and a commission on services or on retail sales. Pick the split by the master's experience and client base, and write the rule in the contract before the start date.
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