Market rankings · California

Salons, barbers and spas in California

Markets across California ranked by the Groundwork market score for salons, barbers and spas, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 69,677; 8,671 chain locations (12%)
Official establishments: 20,209; +18.8% since 2019
Household spending a year: $15.6B; On personal care products and services
Listings per 10k households: 51.4; 9% above the U.S.
Spending per listing: $223K; 5% above the U.S.
Rank among states: #45 of 51; Market score 38 · Lower middle

A site report maps the salons, barbers and spas on map listings around any address in California by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Map listings as of September 2026 show 69,677 salons, barbers and spas in California. Of those, 8,671 are chain locations, or 12%, against 15% across the U.S. That is 51.4 per 10,000 households, 9% above the U.S. rate of 47.2.

Households in California spend about $15.6B a year on personal care products and services, or $1,149 per household, 14% above the U.S. average. That works out to $223K per business, 5% above the U.S. figure of $213K.

In 2023, official counts showed 20,209 businesses with payroll in California classed as personal care services, up 18.8% from 2019. That is one for every 670 households, against one for every 804 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 14.1% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 855 SBA-backed loans worth $248.1M have gone to businesses classed as personal care services in California.

Among the 50 states and DC, California ranks #45 for salons, barbers and spas, with a Groundwork market score of 38 (lower middle). Of the 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Merced metro area scores highest (81). Of the 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Red Bluff area scores highest (72).

Every market in California for salons, barbers and spas

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Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in California, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching California, ranked for salons, barbers and spas by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Merced, CA	81	261	30.3	$301K	+5.1%	#3 of 387
2Yuba City, CA	75	241	38.9	$256K	+3.3%	#10 of 387
3Visalia, CA	72	507	35.4	$269K	+2.4%	#16 of 387
4Bakersfield-Delano, CA	71	1,009	35.4	$268K	+2.3%	#20 of 387
5Stockton-Lodi, CA	71	1,011	41.2	$264K	+5.5%	#23 of 387
6Hanford-Corcoran, CA	68	159	36.1	$261K	+1.0%	#38 of 387
7El Centro, CA	67	161	32.4	$267K	+1.1%	#41 of 387
8Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	59	437	45.1	$269K	−4.7%	#92 of 387
9Fresno, CA	59	1,573	42.5	$231K	+3.2%	#96 of 387
10Vallejo, CA	58	739	46.9	$242K	+0.6%	#109 of 387
11San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	57	3,362	49.4	$289K	−0.6%	#116 of 387
12Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	55	4,292	48.7	$231K	+3.2%	#142 of 387
13Salinas, CA	54	620	46.8	$239K	−1.5%	#150 of 387
14Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	54	6,860	47.3	$226K	+3.5%	#152 of 387
15San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	53	578	52.8	$213K	0.0%	#161 of 387
16San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	52	8,703	49.9	$266K	−2.4%	#166 of 387
17Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	50	724	48.4	$236K	−1.4%	#193 of 387
18Chico, CA	47	371	44.5	$214K	−0.5%	#227 of 387
19Modesto, CA	47	855	48.1	$212K	+0.7%	#229 of 387
20Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	46	1,470	52.4	$229K	−1.5%	#234 of 387
21Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	44	1,047	54.8	$215K	−0.4%	#256 of 387
22Redding, CA	44	354	49.7	$195K	−0.3%	#260 of 387
23Napa, CA	40	287	57.7	$212K	−3.3%	#295 of 387
24San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	37	6,759	57.7	$205K	−0.6%	#323 of 387
25Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	31	26,094	58.0	$194K	−2.6%	#359 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching California, ranked for salons, barbers and spas by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Red Bluff, CA	72	68	27.4	$331K	−1.7%	#37 of 538
2Susanville, CA	63	24	26.0	$348K	−13.1%	#104 of 538
3Sonora, CA	61	86	37.9	$264K	−4.0%	#136 of 538
4Truckee-Grass Valley, CA	58	191	44.6	$244K	−0.4%	#166 of 538
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA	58	102	46.9	$233K	+0.9%	#169 of 538
5Clearlake, CA	57	104	38.6	$234K	−0.6%	#189 of 538
6Bishop, CA	55	30	37.3	$261K	−4.4%	#209 of 538
7Ukiah, CA	50	138	39.6	$238K	−3.5%	#273 of 538
8Eureka-Arcata, CA	49	216	39.3	$230K	−3.4%	#285 of 538
9Crescent City, CA	47	35	36.8	$250K	−4.4%	#308 of 538

Counties

Counties in California, ranked for salons, barbers and spas by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Yuba County, CA	91	43	15.0	$647K	+8.2%	#7 of 2,385
2Calaveras County, CA	78	58	31.5	$327K	+2.8%	#111 of 2,385
3Madera County, CA	76	148	32.6	$302K	+7.4%	#154 of 2,385
4Merced County, CA	73	261	30.3	$301K	+5.1%	#219 of 2,385
5Colusa County, CA	70	17	22.6	$426K	−0.1%	#280 of 2,385
6Mariposa County, CA	68	15	20.0	$474K	−1.2%	#329 of 2,385
7Amador County, CA	68	64	39.8	$260K	+3.2%	#358 of 2,385
8Mono County, CA	67	16	27.9	$405K	−5.4%	#369 of 2,385
9Yolo County, CA	67	251	32.7	$334K	+3.1%	#383 of 2,385
10San Benito County, CA	67	87	42.3	$290K	+8.6%	#391 of 2,385
11Tehama County, CA	66	68	27.4	$331K	−1.7%	#420 of 2,385
12El Dorado County, CA	62	273	35.8	$335K	+0.6%	#562 of 2,385
13Tulare County, CA	62	507	35.4	$269K	+2.4%	#574 of 2,385
14Kern County, CA	60	1,009	35.4	$268K	+2.3%	#656 of 2,385
15Trinity County, CA	59	7	12.5	$674K	−2.3%	#671 of 2,385
16Lassen County, CA	59	24	26.0	$348K	−13.1%	#677 of 2,385
17Imperial County, CA	59	161	32.4	$267K	+1.1%	#708 of 2,385
18San Joaquin County, CA	59	1,011	41.2	$264K	+5.5%	#711 of 2,385
19Kings County, CA	59	159	36.1	$261K	+1.0%	#713 of 2,385
20Tuolumne County, CA	57	86	37.9	$264K	−4.0%	#798 of 2,385
21Siskiyou County, CA	56	59	30.9	$281K	−4.5%	#836 of 2,385
22Nevada County, CA	56	191	44.6	$244K	−0.4%	#855 of 2,385
23Lake County, CA	52	104	38.6	$234K	−0.6%	#1,067 of 2,385
24Riverside County, CA	51	3,664	47.3	$231K	+5.0%	#1,118 of 2,385
25San Mateo County, CA	49	1,238	46.8	$303K	−2.5%	#1,203 of 2,385

Show all 58 counties

Counties in California, ranked for salons, barbers and spas by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Santa Clara County, CA	49	3,275	49.7	$289K	−0.9%	#1,205 of 2,385
27Solano County, CA	49	739	46.9	$242K	+0.6%	#1,224 of 2,385
28Fresno County, CA	48	1,425	43.9	$223K	+2.6%	#1,288 of 2,385
29Glenn County, CA	47	32	32.6	$278K	−2.6%	#1,318 of 2,385
30Santa Cruz County, CA	47	437	45.1	$269K	−4.7%	#1,322 of 2,385
31Inyo County, CA	47	30	37.3	$261K	−4.4%	#1,325 of 2,385
32Contra Costa County, CA	47	2,155	52.0	$249K	+0.3%	#1,333 of 2,385
33Mendocino County, CA	47	138	39.6	$238K	−3.5%	#1,343 of 2,385
34Alameda County, CA	46	2,826	47.2	$276K	−2.6%	#1,389 of 2,385
35Humboldt County, CA	46	216	39.3	$230K	−3.4%	#1,413 of 2,385
36Monterey County, CA	45	620	46.8	$239K	−1.5%	#1,457 of 2,385
37Sacramento County, CA	45	2,709	47.4	$229K	+2.0%	#1,464 of 2,385
38San Luis Obispo County, CA	45	578	52.8	$213K	0.0%	#1,479 of 2,385
39San Bernardino County, CA	44	3,196	47.4	$220K	+1.9%	#1,524 of 2,385
40Placer County, CA	44	1,059	67.0	$184K	+8.9%	#1,542 of 2,385
41Santa Barbara County, CA	43	724	48.4	$236K	−1.4%	#1,567 of 2,385
42Stanislaus County, CA	43	855	48.1	$212K	+0.7%	#1,574 of 2,385
43Plumas County, CA	42	30	37.2	$255K	−5.9%	#1,613 of 2,385
44Marin County, CA	41	568	55.1	$251K	−2.9%	#1,663 of 2,385
45Butte County, CA	41	371	44.5	$214K	−0.5%	#1,680 of 2,385
46San Francisco County, CA	40	1,916	52.6	$253K	−5.6%	#1,713 of 2,385
47Del Norte County, CA	40	35	36.8	$250K	−4.4%	#1,715 of 2,385
48Ventura County, CA	40	1,470	52.4	$229K	−1.5%	#1,720 of 2,385
49Sonoma County, CA	40	1,047	54.8	$215K	−0.4%	#1,728 of 2,385
50Shasta County, CA	39	354	49.7	$195K	−0.3%	#1,784 of 2,385
51Sutter County, CA	36	198	59.5	$171K	−0.7%	#1,921 of 2,385
52Napa County, CA	35	287	57.7	$212K	−3.3%	#1,951 of 2,385
53San Diego County, CA	35	6,759	57.7	$205K	−0.6%	#1,954 of 2,385
54Orange County, CA	31	7,137	65.9	$188K	−1.1%	#2,106 of 2,385
55Los Angeles County, CA	29	18,957	55.5	$197K	−3.0%	#2,151 of 2,385
Modoc County, CA	Not scored	11	33.7	$256K	−2.9%
Sierra County, CA	Not scored	2	16.4	$556K	−4.0%
Alpine County, CA	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−11.6%

Markets with fewer than 5 salons, barbers and spas on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many salons, barbers and spas are in California?

There are 69,677 salons, barbers and spas on map listings in California as of September 2026. 8,671 of them (12%) are chain locations. The listings count hair and nail salons, barbers, spas and skin care. Official counts show 20,209 businesses with payroll classed as personal care services in 2023, up 18.8% from 2019. Official counts list 152,557 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in California spend on personal care products and services?

About $15.6B a year, or $1,149 per household. That is 14% above the U.S. average (an index of 114, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 69,677 salons, barbers and spas on map listings, it comes to $223K per business. It is estimated from the incomes of the 13,548,091 households in California and national spending patterns by income.

How does California compare with the U.S. for salons, barbers and spas?

California has 51.4 salons, barbers and spas per 10,000 households, 9% above the U.S. rate of 47.2. Spending per business is $223K, 5% above the U.S. figure of $213K. At the national ratio of salons, barbers and spas to household spending, California would have about 73,157, against 69,677 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 670 households, against one for every 804 across the U.S. The official count rose 18.8% from 2019 to 2023, against +14.1% for the U.S.

Which market in California has the highest market score for salons, barbers and spas?

Among 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Merced metro area scores highest, at 81 (high). Among 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Red Bluff area scores highest, at 72 (upper middle). Among 55 scored counties in California, Yuba County scores highest, at 91 (very high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. California scores 38 for salons, barbers and spas (lower middle), #45 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in California. It maps the salons, barbers and spas on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

Hair salons32,468 listings
Barbershops7,262 listings
Nail salons9,390 listings
Spas and skin care18,537 listings

Screening a site or an acquisition in California?

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