Do commission stylists have to earn minimum wage?
Yes, if they are employees. Slow days are where it costs you.
Yes. In California and other states, a stylist who is an employee must be paid at least minimum wage for all hours worked, even on commission. California's statewide minimum wage is $16.90 an hour in 2026, and many cities set higher local rates, so on a slow day the salon may owe more than the commission earned.
The rules in plain words
- California statewide: $16.90 an hour for 2026, for all employers. Some cities and counties, like San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose, set higher local minimums, and the highest applicable rate wins.
- Commission does not replace minimum wage. If a stylist's commission for the pay period comes in under minimum wage for the hours worked, the difference has to be made up.
- California is stricter than most places. California generally expects every hour worked to be paid, and courts have said commission employees must be paid separately for rest breaks. Many owners use a base hourly rate plus commission for this reason.
- Licensed stylists in California: Labor Code 204.11 lets a salon treat percentage pay as commission when the stylist also gets a base hourly rate of at least twice the state minimum wage for all hours worked.
- Overtime still applies: in California, generally over 8 hours in a day or 40 in a week.
- Washington is $17.13 an hour in 2026, with higher local rates in places like Seattle. Oregon is $15.55 standard and $16.80 in the Portland metro from July 1, 2026.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Pay rules for commission stylists are detailed and change every year, so check your setup with your payroll provider or an employment attorney.
What a slow day costs
| Busy Saturday | Slow Monday | |
| Hours on the floor | 8 | 8 |
| Services done | $900 | $160 |
| Commission at 45% | $405 | $72 |
| Minimum owed (8 x $16.90) | $135.20 | $135.20 |
| Salon tops up | $0 | $63.20 |
Made-up stylist, using the 2026 California statewide rate only. A local minimum, payroll taxes or rest-break pay would raise the Monday cost. It is the same stylist; the only difference is the book.
What owners do about it
- Find the days and hours where commission falls under the minimum, week after week.
- Shift start and end times on those days instead of cutting whole days.
- Fill quiet blocks with rebooks, add-ons and waitlist clients.
- Look at revenue per labor hour by day, not just monthly totals.
Quick answers
Do commission-only stylists have to make minimum wage in California?
Yes, if they are employees. California requires at least minimum wage for all hours worked, $16.90 an hour statewide in 2026, or a higher local rate where one applies. If commission falls short, the salon owes the difference, and rest breaks generally must be paid separately.
What is the minimum wage in California in 2026?
The statewide minimum wage is $16.90 an hour starting January 1, 2026. Many cities and counties have higher local minimum wages, and employers must pay the highest rate that applies.
What is Labor Code 204.11 for salons?
It covers licensed barbers and cosmetologists in California. Percentage-based pay counts as commission when the stylist is also paid a base hourly rate of at least twice the state minimum wage for all hours worked. Talk to a payroll provider or attorney before relying on it.
How do I know which days my salon is topping up commission pay?
Compare each stylist's commission per day with their hours times the minimum wage. Tangled Analytics does this from your booking export and shows the days and stylists under the line. Try the free profit snapshot at tangleddata.com.