Hair models display different hair styles to promote products and salons or studios. Hair models also appear at live hair modeling events, as well as in television ads, magazines, websites and other publications. Hair models are also sometimes just referred to as models.The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the national average salary for models was $42,560 in 2010. Salaries for hair models, and all models, vary by employer, reputation and experience.

General Model Salary

Models earned a median salary of $32,920 in 2010, reported the BLS. The salary range varied from $19,830 or less to $60,030 or more. Most earned a salary between $23,350 and $40,350. Some models, including hair models, are paid by the hour. The average hourly wage for models in 2010 was $20.46. The hourly pay range that year was between $11.23 and $28.86, though most earned between $15.83 and $19.40 an hour.

Pay by Job

Hair models are often paid by the job, rather than a set salary. Because of this, a hair model's annual salary can fluctuate from year to year. According to the All Around Talent website, hair models earn anywhere from $100 to $10,000 per job. Most jobs take at least a few hours and are finished within a day, though some jobs might take longer, especially if the models are shooting at different locations for the same job. The average pay for a day of hair modeling is about $225, according to All Around Talent.

Job Requirements

Hair models must be flexible and not attached to any one particular hairstyle. Their job is to accept whatever look a stylist gives them, and to "work" the look with confidence to sell the look or product. According to All Around Talent, hair models typically need to be at least 5 feet 6 inches tall, wear clothes between sizes 0 and 6 and must have all-natural hair with no dye. Their hair might get cut or colored for a job, or they might have extensions added.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for models is good, with a 16 percent increase in job opportunities expected between 2008 and 2018, according to the BLS. O-Net Online predicts a 14 to 19 percent increase in job opportunities during the same time period. However, competition for hair modeling jobs, and all modeling jobs, will be fierce. The higher-paying jobs are the hardest to get. Young hair models with little experience should take almost any job they can, just to gain experience and build up a solid portfolio. They should also be looking at various modeling agencies to help them gain more exposure and book more jobs.