When considering a job in retail, one of the first questions that likely comes to mind is, "How often will I get paid?" A weekly paycheck can make a big difference in budgeting and financial planning compared to getting paid every other week. So if you‘re thinking about applying for a position at Sephora, you‘re probably wondering—does Sephora pay weekly or biweekly? And how do their compensation and benefits compare to similar retailers?
As a global leader in beauty and cosmetics, Sephora offers competitive pay and perks to attract and retain top talent in their stores, distribution centers, and corporate offices. But before accepting an offer, it‘s important to understand the ins and outs of their pay practices and what you can expect to earn in different roles.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about Sephora‘s pay schedule, wages for popular positions, opportunities for bonuses and commission, and more. Let‘s dive in and see how Sephora‘s compensation stacks up.
Sephora Pays Employees Biweekly
First things first—let‘s answer the big question at hand. No, Sephora does not pay weekly as of 2023. Instead, they operate on a biweekly pay schedule, meaning employees receive their paychecks every other week, typically on Fridays.
According to current and former employees, Sephora uses the Dayforce portal to manage timekeeping, scheduling, and payroll. Payments are issued via direct deposit, so the funds are available in employees‘ bank accounts on payday. For new hires, there is usually a one-week holding period before the first paycheck is issued.
So while you won‘t get the instant gratification of a weekly paycheck, the biweekly cadence is fairly standard for large retailers. It allows the company to streamline payroll processing while still providing steady, predictable income to their workforce.
Sephora Pay Rates for Popular Positions
Now that we‘ve established when you‘ll get paid, let‘s talk numbers. How much can you expect to earn working at Sephora? The answer depends largely on your specific role and responsibilities.
Based on data from Glassdoor and Payscale, here are the average hourly wages and annual salaries for some of the most common positions at Sephora:
- Retail Sales Associate: $12 – $16 per hour, or $25,000 – $33,000 per year
- Cashier: $11 – $15 per hour, or $23,000 – $31,000 per year
- Beauty Advisor: $13 – $18 per hour, or $27,000 – $37,000 per year
- Makeup Artist: $18 – $30 per hour, or $37,000 – $62,000 per year
- Skincare Consultant: $14 – $23 per hour, or $29,000 – $48,000 per year
- Fragrance Consultant: $12 – $20 per hour, or $25,000 – $42,000 per year
- Stock Coordinator: $12 – $17 per hour, or $25,000 – $35,000 per year
As you can see, the hourly wages for most entry-level positions at Sephora fall between $11 and $18 per hour. With experience and specialization in areas like makeup artistry and skincare consultation, there is room for growth and higher earning potential over time.
Sephora also offers opportunities for advancement into lead and managerial roles, which come with a significant bump in pay. Here‘s what you can expect for some higher-level positions:
- Merchandise Lead: $15 – $24 per hour, or $31,000 – $50,000 per year
- Operations Lead: $16 – $28 per hour, or $33,000 – $58,000 per year
- Assistant Store Manager: $45,000 – $80,000 per year
- Store Director: $60,000 – $130,000 per year
Moving up the ranks into a supervisory or managerial role can earn you a salary in the range of $45,000 to $130,000 annually. Of course, with greater pay comes greater responsibility for operations, sales, customer service, and team leadership.
Commission and Bonus Opportunities
In addition to base pay, many Sephora employees are eligible for commissions or bonuses based on their individual and store performance. However, the structure of these incentives varies by position.
For beauty advisors and sales associates, Sephora does not offer a traditional commission model where employees earn a percentage of their sales. Instead, they provide monthly bonuses based on meeting or exceeding sales goals as a store. The idea is to encourage a team-oriented approach and exceptional customer service rather than pushy sales tactics.
Seasonal employees may also receive smaller bonuses, while some specialty roles like hair stylists or makeup artists may work on a commission basis. Lead and managerial staff typically receive performance-based bonuses tied to store revenue, profitability, and other key metrics.
How Kohl‘s Sephora Differs
In recent years, Sephora has expanded their partnership with Kohl‘s, opening in-store beauty shops at select locations across the U.S. However, employees of these Sephora at Kohl‘s concepts are actually Kohl‘s employees and fall under Kohl‘s pay and benefits policies.
One key difference is that Kohl‘s pays weekly on Fridays, rather than biweekly. They also offer a more robust employee discount program, with associates receiving 15% off all merchandise and occasional double discount days for up to 30% off.
The pay scale for comparable positions is similar between Kohl‘s Sephora and standalone Sephora stores. Beauty advisors and sales associates can expect to start around $12 per hour on average.
Paid Training for New Hires
When you join the Sephora team, you‘ll go through a comprehensive paid training program to learn the ropes. This typically includes a combination of classroom-style learning, online modules, and hands-on practice on the sales floor or in a mock store environment.
The length of training varies by position but is usually in the range of 1-2 weeks for entry-level roles and longer for leads and managers. During this time, you‘ll be compensated at your normal hourly rate or salary—so you don‘t need to worry about missing out on pay while you get up to speed.
Sephora is known for their extensive product knowledge and commitment to ongoing education, so the learning doesn‘t stop after initial onboarding. Employees have access to paid in-store trainings, vendor demos, online courses, and even off-site events throughout their career to stay up-to-date on the latest beauty trends and techniques.
Part-Time vs. Full-Time Hours
Sephora employs a mix of part-time and full-time workers to meet the needs of their business and employees. Part-time associates typically work between 15-30 hours per week, while full-time staff work closer to 30-40 hours per week on average.
Actual schedules can vary quite a bit depending on the specific store, position, and time of year. Managers usually have more predictable schedules, while sales staff may need to be flexible to cover peak hours, weekends, and seasonal fluctuations.
Many Sephora employees appreciate the option to choose between part-time and full-time work depending on their personal circumstances. Part-time can be great for students, parents, or those looking for a side hustle, while full-time offers the stability and benefits of a traditional 40-hour workweek.
How Does Sephora Compare to Other Retailers?
So how does Sephora‘s pay and benefits stack up against other major players in the retail industry? Let‘s take a quick look at some key points of comparison:
- Ulta Beauty: Pays biweekly; average hourly wages of $10-$15 for beauty advisors and $13-$20 for prestige beauty advisors and makeup artists
- MAC Cosmetics: Pays biweekly; average hourly wages of $12-$17 for retail artists and specialists
- Target: Pays biweekly; recently raised minimum starting wage to $15 per hour for all positions
- Nordstrom: Pays biweekly; average base pay of $14-$18 per hour for beauty advisors and $18-$30 for beauty stylists and managers
In terms of base pay, Sephora is in line with or slightly above similar beauty retailers like Ulta and MAC. They also offer competitive wages compared to department stores like Nordstrom and big box stores like Target.
What really sets Sephora apart is their strong emphasis on employee training, product education, and career development. They invest heavily in their workforce and strive to promote from within, which can lead to long-term growth and earning potential for dedicated team members.
Sephora also offers a solid benefits package for eligible full-time employees, including health insurance, paid time off, 401k, and generous discounts on products. They‘ve even added mental health benefits and resources in recent years to support employees‘ overall wellbeing. Part-time staff may qualify for more limited benefits after a certain length of service.
The Bottom Line
All in all, Sephora is a competitive employer in the retail and beauty space, both in terms of pay and overall employee experience. While they may not offer the instant gratification of a weekly paycheck, their biweekly pay schedule is on par with most major retailers.
More importantly, they provide fair base wages for various positions, opportunities for bonuses and advancement, and a robust training and benefits program to set their employees up for success. If you‘re passionate about beauty and looking for a dynamic retail career, Sephora is definitely worth considering.
Of course, no job is perfect and every individual‘s experience may vary. It‘s always a good idea to weigh multiple factors—such as location, scheduling flexibility, management, and company culture—alongside compensation when making a career decision.
Hopefully this in-depth look at Sephora‘s pay practices has given you a clearer picture of what to expect and how they measure up in the industry. Whether you‘re a beauty expert or just starting out, Sephora can be a great place to grow your skills and career in a fast-paced, innovative retail environment.
