RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY : SPA EMPLOYMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC
FROM PAGE 6 OF THE STUDY
The Covid-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to service industries reliant on personal contact , causing significant job losses during the spring 2020 lockdown . However , these industries have shown remarkable resilience and have rebounded strongly , though they have yet to fully recover all the lost jobs . By September 2023 , employment levels in these sectors remained five to six percent below pre-pandemic levels .
Specifically , the beauty salon and personal service industries , including day spas , experienced a sharp decline in employment during the 2020 lockdown . Although employment rebounded in the latter part of 2020 , it was still 20 percent lower in January 2021 compared to January 2020 . Steady growth continued through 2022 and into the first nine months of 2023 , but by September 2023 , employment in these industries was still six percent below pre-pandemic levels .
Similarly , the hotel and motel industry , heavily impacted by travel restrictions and a decline in tourism , faced even greater challenges that were felt by their associated spas . Employment in this sector was 42 percent lower in January 2021 compared to January 2020 . Despite these setbacks , the industry has regained ground steadily , and by September 2023 , employment had recovered to within five percent of pre-pandemic levels .
EMPLOYMENT , FEBRUARY 2020 = 100 ( SOURCE : BLS )
100
75
TOTAL U . S .
50
BEAUTY SALONS AND OTHER PERSONAL SERVICES HOTEL AND MOTELS FEB 2020 = 100
25
0 JAN MAR MAY JUL SEP NOV JAN MAR MAY JUL SEP NOV JAN MAR MAY JUL SEP NOV JAN MAR MAY JUL SEP NOV JAN MAR
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
13 %
16 %
< $ 60,000 $ 60,000 – $ 69,999
SPA DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
26 %
$ 70,000 – $ 79,999
14 %
$ 80,000 – $ 89,999
8 %
$ 90,000 – $ 99,999
12 %
$ 100,000 – $ 124,999
5 % 5 %
$ 125,000 – $ 149,999
$ 150,000 +
SPA DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
FROM PAGES 44-61 OF THE STUDY
U . S . spa director compensation levels vary significantly , averaging around $ 84,300 . While a substantial portion of spa directors earn between $ 60,000 and $ 90,000 , a notable percentage earn above this range , and a smaller segment falls below it .
In the day spa sector , nearly half of the spas employ a director , with most earning in the mid-range and a significant number earning higher . In contrast , the resort / hotel spa sector shows a higher tendency toward elevated compensation levels , with a majority earning well above the mid-range , and only a small fraction earning less . This data highlights the considerable differences in spa director salaries , driven by the type and scale of the spa . n
SEPTEMBER 2024 n PULSE 49