If you're thinking about applying to Ulta, you've probably seen the Beauty Advisor job posting. It's the most common position they hire for, and it's how most people get their start in beauty retail. But the job description doesn't tell you much about what the work actually looks like day to day.
I've worked with dozens of Ulta Beauty Advisors over the years, and the reality of the job is both better and worse than what you'd expect from the listing. Better because the product access and training can be genuinely valuable. Worse because the pay is modest and the physical demands are real.
Here's what you need to know before you apply.
What Ulta Beauty Advisors Actually Do
The core of the job is helping customers. That sounds obvious, but at Ulta it takes a specific form. You're working in a store that carries everything from drugstore mascara to prestige skincare, so customers come in with wildly different needs and budgets. Your job is to figure out what they're looking for and help them find it.
On a typical shift, you'll spend time greeting customers as they walk in, answering questions about products, making recommendations, and demonstrating makeup or skincare when asked. You'll also do a fair amount of restocking, cleaning, and organizing. Ulta stores move a lot of product, and keeping the shelves looking good is a constant task.
The ratio of customer interaction to stocking depends on the store and the shift. Weekday mornings are usually slower with more time spent on tasks. Weekends, especially Saturday afternoons, are customer-focused. During holiday season, you'll barely have time to breathe between customers.
Beauty Advisors also handle cash register duties. You'll ring up purchases, process returns, and sign customers up for the Ultamate Rewards program. That loyalty program is a big deal for Ulta, and you'll be expected to mention it to customers who aren't members.
Some shifts include specific tasks like setting up promotional displays, doing inventory counts, or helping with online order fulfillment (BOPIS, which is buy online pick up in store). These tasks are usually assigned by the manager and vary by day.
The Difference Between Beauty Advisor and Prestige Beauty Advisor
Ulta has two tiers of beauty advisor roles. The standard Beauty Advisor position works across the whole store, including the drugstore/mass section. Prestige Beauty Advisors focus specifically on the prestige side of the store, which includes brands like MAC, Clinique, Lancome, Urban Decay, and the higher-end skincare lines.
Prestige positions typically pay more (we'll get to the numbers shortly) and come with additional training on the luxury brands. You're also expected to do more in-depth consultations and work the prestige section of the floor during events or launches.
Most people start as regular Beauty Advisors and move into Prestige after proving themselves. Some stores hire directly into Prestige if you have prior experience with specific brands or a strong beauty background.
You'll also notice other people working the floor who aren't Ulta employees. These are brand ambassadors or freelancers who work for specific brands (like L'Oreal or Estee Lauder) rather than the store. They blend in and help customers, but they're focused on their brand's products. It's a different career track entirely, one we cover elsewhere on the site.
Pay: What Ulta Beauty Advisors Actually Earn
Pay for Ulta Beauty Advisors varies by location, but here are the realistic ranges based on current data:
Standard Beauty Advisor positions typically pay between $12 and $16 per hour. The lower end is more common in smaller markets or for brand new hires with no experience. The higher end is seen in expensive metro areas like New York, San Francisco, or Seattle, or for advisors who've been with the company for a few years.
Prestige Beauty Advisor positions run about $14 to $19 per hour. Again, location matters a lot. A Prestige BA in Dallas might make $15, while the same role in Los Angeles could pay $18.
Most Beauty Advisor positions are part-time, typically 20-30 hours per week. Full-time positions exist but are less common and usually go to people who've been with the store for a while. Even at the higher pay rates, part-time hours mean modest paychecks. At $15/hour for 25 hours a week, you're looking at around $375 before taxes, or roughly $1,500 a month.
Ulta does offer a gratis program where employees receive free products periodically. The value varies but can add up to a few hundred dollars worth of products per year. You also get an employee discount, typically 25% off, which is helpful if you're a product junkie.
The Physical Reality of the Job
Beauty Advisor is a retail job, which means you're on your feet for your entire shift. That's typically 4-8 hours of standing, walking, and moving around the store. Good shoes matter more than you'd think.
You'll also do a fair amount of bending and lifting. Shipment comes in boxes that need to be unpacked, and you'll be restocking shelves at all heights. Nothing too heavy, but it adds up over a shift.
The other physical aspect is your appearance. Ulta expects advisors to wear makeup and present well. You don't need to be in full glam, but bare-faced isn't really an option. For some people this is fun. For others it's an extra 20-30 minutes of unpaid prep time before each shift.
Training and Learning
One of the genuine perks of working at Ulta is the training. The company provides product education, and you'll learn about brands across the store. Prestige brand representatives often come in to do training sessions on their specific products.
This training has real value if you're trying to build a career in beauty. Learning how to recommend skincare based on skin type, understanding ingredient basics, knowing how to do a proper color match for foundation: these skills transfer to other roles and can help you move up.
The quality of training varies by store and by how proactive your management is about scheduling education sessions. Some stores are great about this. Others barely do it. Ask about training frequency during your interview if it matters to you.
Who This Job Works For
The Beauty Advisor role at Ulta makes sense for a few types of people.
If you're passionate about beauty products and want to learn more while getting paid, this is a reasonable starting point. The product exposure alone is valuable. You'll try things you'd never buy yourself and develop opinions about what actually works.
If you're building toward a career in beauty (as a makeup artist, esthetician, or brand rep), the retail experience and training can help your resume. Many brand education and field sales roles want candidates with retail beauty experience. Ulta counts.
If you need flexible part-time work and enjoy talking to people, this can be a solid option. Scheduling is usually flexible, and the social aspect of the job appeals to people who'd go crazy in a warehouse or office.
If you're a student or have another primary income source and want supplemental income plus product access, the combination of pay, gratis, and discount can work out well.
Who Should Skip It
If you need full-time hours with benefits immediately, Ulta Beauty Advisor probably isn't the right move. Full-time positions are limited and usually require time as a part-timer first.
If you're looking for high pay, this isn't it. You can make more money in plenty of other retail jobs. The appeal of Ulta is the industry, not the wages.
If you don't like selling, be honest with yourself. You'll have goals around loyalty signups and may have metrics around conversion rates. It's low-pressure compared to commissioned sales environments, but it's still retail and selling is part of the job.
If standing for long periods is difficult for you, the physical demands may be a problem. Sitting isn't really an option during shifts.
How to Apply and What to Expect
Ulta posts positions on their careers website and on job boards like Indeed. The application is straightforward. You'll submit basic information and may be asked some screening questions about availability and experience.
If you're selected for an interview, it'll typically be with a store manager or assistant manager. They'll ask about your customer service experience, your interest in beauty, and your availability. Come prepared with specific examples of helping customers in past jobs, even if those jobs weren't in retail.
Don't stress about certifications or formal training. Ulta hires plenty of people with no professional beauty background. What they're looking for is someone who can engage with customers, shows genuine interest in products, and will be reliable about showing up for shifts.
If you wear makeup to the interview, that helps. It shows you're comfortable with the products and gives them a sense of your personal style. You don't need to be perfectly polished, but some effort signals that you take the job seriously.
The Bottom Line
Ulta Beauty Advisor is an entry-level retail job in an industry that's more interesting than most. The pay is modest, the work is physical, and the hours are often part-time. But you get product access, genuine training, and experience that can lead to better roles in beauty.
It's a good first step if you're trying to get into the industry. It's a reasonable side gig if you love beauty products and want access plus income. It's not a great long-term career unless you're moving into management or using it as a springboard to something else.
Know what you're getting into, and the job can be exactly what you need. Just don't expect more than it is.