As one of the leading beauty retailers in the US, Ulta employs a large number of people at stores and corporate locations across the country. They have a wide range of positions available for employees, including sales positions, marketing positions, and administrative positions. In order to attract and retain talented employees, Ulta offers competitive wages and salaries.
The median salary for Ulta employees in the US is $34,125 per year. This includes part-time, full-time, and corporate positions. Starting positions (such as cashiers or store managers) pay between $9.98 per hour and $14.37 per hour.
These salary amounts are aggregated from self-reported data available on Indeed.com and Talent.com. Local salaries and wages may differ by store. Full time positions also come with increased benefits and perks which are not factored directly into the reported salary.
Keep reading to find details on what it’s like working at Ulta, as well as more info on Ulta employee compensation in general.
What Is the Highest Paying Job at Ulta?
Like any large chain, Ulta has a wide range of positions with different salaries and benefits. These include basic sales associate positions and other starting jobs at Ulta stores, as well as more exclusive and competitive administrative and corporate positions that can pay very well.
The highest paying job at an Ulta store is associate manager at around $89,318 per year. Other high paying jobs available at Ulta include accounting, manufacturing, and analysis.
The salaried positions available to you as an Ulta employee will depend on your qualifications. Accordingly, the more demanding positions such as sales analyst or even makeup artist will command higher wages than simple sales associates and cashiers.
Ulta locations are often hiring employees for every stratum of their corporate hierarchy, so if you have the qualifications necessary to land one of the higher paying jobs at Ulta, it will be worth your time to seek employment with them. They also offer a wide range of competitive benefits for workers at every level.
Do You Get Paid Weekly at Ulta?
One of the more pertinent questions for new Ulta employees is “when will I get paid?” If you’ve started your duties at Ulta in the middle of a pay period, you may not receive a paycheck until after you work a full pay period. In other cases, you may receive partial pay for the hours you managed to work before the pay period came to an end.
You do not get paid weekly at Ulta. Like most retail positions, Ulta employees are paid bi-weekly on Fridays. Some payment details may differ between stores, but the bi-weekly pay schedule is fairly consistent across the country.
The hours you work while training will be paid out on your first paycheck. If you came in partway through a pay period, you may not receive a paycheck until you work your first full pay period (you will be paid in full for any hours worked up until that point.
Is It Hard to Get Hired at Ulta?
Ulta has a streamlined hiring and onboarding process designed to screen potential workers and prepare new hires for the responsibilities of working at an Ulta store. Self-reported information on their hiring and onboarding process is available on Indeed.com.
It is not hard to get hired at Ulta. However, employees are evaluated based on how qualified they are for available positions. If you are qualified and ready to work, you should receive a job offer within a week or two of your application.
Promising applicants will be invited to interview for a position, and promising candidates will often be offered a job at the interview. Higher up positions requiring more stringent qualifications may have a more involved hiring process. Overall, the process should take 1-2 weeks from your original application.
New employees will be invited to sign paperwork and begin their orientation soon after they are offered the job. This will also be where you set up things like your benefits packages if applicable.
What Benefits Do You Get Working at Ulta?
Since Ulta is one of the leading beauty retailers in the US, they have a number of benefits and perks designed to attract and retain employees. These benefits depend largely on your type of employment (i.e. part-time or full-time employment), as well as the actual position for which you were hired.
Working at Ulta entitles you to a number of benefits depending on your employment.
Full time employees are offered the following:
- One of two medical PPO plans
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Company life insurance
- Disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts
- Lifestyle benefits (such as home insurance, auto insurance, and more)
- Paid time off and holiday pay
Part time employees are entitled to the following:
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Life insurance
- Disability coverage
- Lifestyle benefits (such as accident insurance)
In addition to these benefits, all Ulta employees are also offered participation in the 401(k) plan with company contribution matching. This benefit is limited to employees who are 21 years of age or older. All employees are also entitled to a 25% discount on retail products at Ulta, as well as 50% off salon services.
Is It Better to Work at Sephora or Ulta?
Sephora is another leading beauty retailer in the US. They also operate stores in a number of other countries including Canada and Mexico. Although Sephora is older and larger than Ulta, their work environment and company culture is very similar. Sephora offers beauty products and services, and Sephora employees are compensated similarly to Ulta employees.
That being said, when self-reported employee satisfaction surveys are stacked up side-by-side, Sephora seems to be rated favorably compared to Ulta fairly consistently. The most drastic difference is in terms of management approval; 80% of Sephora employees express satisfaction with upper management, compared to 73% of Ulta employees.
It is better to work at Sephora compared to Ulta. Self-reported employee satisfaction surveys reveal a pattern of employee satisfaction which favors Sephora over Ulta. That being said, your experience will depend largely on your position and location.
Different Ulta locations will have different managers and employees, as well as a different clientele. These factors can potentially affect how well you fit at the job. Another important thing to consider is the difference in benefits between Sephora and Ulta:
| Benefits | Sephora | Ulta |
| Employee discount | 30% off regular product purchases 40% off Sephora collection purchases | 25% off product purchases 50% off salon services |
| 401(k) matching | Yes (after one year) | Yes |
| Health coverage | Several available plans | Choice of 2 PPO plans |
| Dental coverage | No | Yes |
| Lifestyle benefits | Family planning, donation matching | Accident insurance, auto insurance, and more |
| Paid time off | Yes | Yes |
In the end, the employer that is right for you will depend largely on your own qualifications, career path, and the jobs available in your area. Being upfront about your expectations and capabilities during your hiring and orientation is a great way to ensure a good employment experience at both Sephora and Ulta.
Do You Need to Know About Makeup to Work at Ulta?
Since Ulta is a beauty retailer, working with them often entails a lot of makeup know-how. They have a number of positions specifically for makeup artists and beauty consultants, and knowing about makeup brands and techniques can make a huge difference for qualification and completion of your duties.
That being said, there are many positions at Ulta that do not require any prior knowledge of makeup in order to perform properly. In general, employees hired as cashiers and sales associates will be required to know about makeup brands and other beauty products, but in-depth knowledge of makeup application and such is generally unnecessary.
You do not need to know about makeup to work at Ulta. Ulta will train new employees on makeup products and brands available in their stores. However, Ulta employees are generally expected to showcase some of the products by wearing them while working.
In the end, having prior knowledge of the makeup industry, brands, and techniques is a plus when working at Ulta, but it is hardly a requirement. If you’re self-conscious about your level of makeup knowledge, then bringing it up during the onboarding process can ensure that you are pointed in the right direction in terms of knowledge and preparation.
Does Ulta Pay Tuition?
If you’re in school while working for Ulta, you may find it prohibitive to pay for all your schooling needs on top of the other expenses in your life. Going to school is expensive, and many people require assistance in the form of scholarships and other programs.
Ulta does pay tuition. Active, full-time employees that have been working at Ulta for a year or more are entitled to financial assistance in the form of reimbursement for select tuition expenses.
Tuition reimbursement must be approved for the employee in question prior to them beginning their school year. This means that if you want Ulta to help you financially with your tuition costs, you should make sure to fill out all the appropriate paperwork so that you have things promptly in order. If you’re curious about the process, it’s a good idea to ask your manager for details. They can point you in the right direction even if they don’t have the details themselves.
Does Ulta Pay Overtime?
Sometimes, employees at Ulta may be asked to work more than 40 hours per week. This usually happens during busier times of the year, such as around holidays. It can also happen when stores are temporarily shorthanded due to staff changes or other sudden occurrences.
Ulta does pay overtime. Any hourly employee that works more than 40 hours in a week will be paid 1.5x their regular wage for those additional hours. This is required by federal law in the United States.
If you work more than 40 hours in a week and you do not receive 1.5x your wage for those additional hours, it is most likely just an oversight. Bring the issue to your manager to have the discrepancy rectified. Keep in mind that holiday or sick time does not count towards your 40 hours per week total (and thus will not qualify for overtime pay).
Want to learn more about Ulta? Check out our related posts to learn if Ulta takes apple pay, does Ulta price match and if you can use a Sephora gift card at Ulta.
Final Thoughts
Working at Ulta can be a rewarding step in your career if you stick with it and adjust your expectations accordingly. There are a wide range of benefits and perks for both part-time and full-time employees. The wages are also competitive and there are a wide range of different positions that employees can fill at Ulta.
You do not need to have prior knowledge of makeup brands and techniques if you want to work at Ulta, but some knowledge of the products you will be selling as an Ulta employee is considered a plus. Ulta will provide training to familiarize you with the brands available for sale.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask away in the comments section.