Salon wage increases in 2026 and 2027: what's changing in the UK, US and Australia

Updated 19 October 2026. Figures are minimum rates set by law or by awards. Many salons pay above them. This is general information, not legal or payroll advice.

United Kingdom

• National Living Wage (21 and over): £12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026, up 50p or 4.1%. The 18–20 rate rose 8.5% to £10.85, and the 16–17 and apprentice rates to £8.00 (GOV.UK, Low Pay Commission).
• Employer National Insurance: since 6 April 2025, employers pay 15% (up from 13.8%) on earnings above £5,000 a year (down from £9,100). The maximum Employment Allowance rose to £10,500 (HMRC Employer Bulletin). HMRC says the £5,000 threshold stays in place until April 2028 (HMRC).
• April 2027: new minimum wage rates take effect each April. The April 2027 rates hadn't been announced when we checked on 19 October 2026, so check gov.uk.

UK employment law is changing too, from sick pay to unfair dismissal. See what the Employment Rights Act 2025 means for salon employers and UK salon employer costs in 2026.

Australia

• Award wages: minimum award wages rose 4.75% from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. The Fair Work Ombudsman's own example is a hair salon whose staff are covered by the Hair and Beauty Award (Fair Work Ombudsman).
• National Minimum Wage: $26.44 an hour or $1,004.90 a week from 1 July 2026, for employees not covered by an award or agreement (Fair Work Ombudsman). The government says that's a 6% rise from $24.95 an hour (Ministers' Media Centre).

Check your staff's exact classification and rate with the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides.

United States

• What receptionists earn: the median hourly wage for receptionists was $18.27 in May 2025, and $16.57 in personal care services, which includes salons (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
• Washington: $17.73 an hour from 1 January 2027, up from $17.13 (Washington L&I).
• Michigan: scheduled to rise to $15.00 an hour on 1 January 2027 (U.S. Department of Labor).
• California and others: ADP's state and local minimum wage chart (current as of 20 September 2026) lists California rising to $17.40 on 1 January 2027, with increases also scheduled in other states and cities (ADP). Check your state labor department for your exact rate, and city rates where they apply.

What rising wages mean for a salon front desk

Every hour of front desk cover costs more than it did a year ago, and the hours a salon most needs covered (Saturdays, evenings, the lunchtime rush) are the hardest to staff. Many owners respond by cutting desk hours and asking stylists to answer between clients, which pulls them out of paid services. Others let calls go to voicemail, which loses bookings: in a 2025 CallRail survey of 1,000 US consumers, only 42% said they leave a voicemail when a business doesn't answer, and 21% said they immediately call another business (CallRail).

For a full breakdown of what a front desk hire costs beyond the wage, see how much a salon receptionist costs. For ways to protect margins, see how salons can cut costs without cutting staff hours.

Where CallPad helps

CallPad is an AI receptionist for salons, spas and clinics. It answers every call 24/7, including evenings, Sundays and the Saturday rush, without adding staff hours. It books, moves and cancels appointments in real time on supported booking systems, so your team isn't pulled out of services to pick up the phone, and the calls that come in while everyone is busy still turn into bookings. It sends missed-call text-backs, texts clients on your waitlist when a slot opens up, and can take a deposit on the call by texting a payment link or using a card on file in your booking system. When a caller needs a person, it can transfer the call to a team member or take a message. Setup takes about 10 minutes, and CallPad plans are quote-based.

Related guides

• How much does a salon receptionist cost?
• UK salon employer costs in 2026
• The Employment Rights Act 2025 for salon employers
• Cut salon costs without cutting staff hours
• Salon front desk turnover

Frequently asked questions

What is the UK National Living Wage in 2026?

£12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over, from 1 April 2026. The 18–20 rate is £10.85 and the 16–17 and apprentice rates are £8.00.

How much did Australian award wages rise in 2026?

Minimum award wages, including the Hair and Beauty Award, rose 4.75% from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. The National Minimum Wage rose to $26.44 an hour.

Which US states raise the minimum wage on 1 January 2027?

Several, including Washington (to $17.73) and Michigan (to $15.00). ADP's chart lists California rising to $17.40. Check your state labor department and any city rate that applies.

How can a salon cover the phone without adding staff hours?

An AI receptionist such as CallPad answers every call 24/7 and books, moves and cancels appointments in real time on supported booking systems, so stylists stay with clients and calls don't go to voicemail.

Try CallPad

Get a quote for your salon, or hear CallPad answer a real salon call.