Barbers earn a median of $38,210 per year ($18.37/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 3.3% through 2035, with about 6,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 39-5011
- Personal Care and Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Barber in four numbers
- Median pay
- $38,210a year, or $18.37/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $29KTop 10% $76K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.3%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6,90075,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202575.8K
- Projected 203578.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 75.8K Projected 2035 78.3K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Barber Shop Operator, Barber Stylist, Hair Stylist, Stylist.
Pay
How much do Barbers make?
Every barber in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$38,210
Middle half earn $31,570 to $58,960
- 10th
- $28,600
- 25th
- $31,570
- 75th
- $58,960
- 90th
- $76,460
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $28,600 |
| 25th | $31,570 |
| Median | $38,210 |
| 75th | $58,960 |
| 90th | $76,460 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $38,210
- Median hourly wage
- $18.37/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $47,070
- People employed
- 15,000
Versus all US occupations
At $38,210, Barbers earn 25% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,770 a year.
Versus personal care and service occupations
The median is typical for the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $76,460 or more while the bottom 10% earn $28,600, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 6% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Oregon pays the most at $77,430, and still leads at $74,912 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Barbers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Oregon | $77,430 | $74,912 | N/A |
| 2Illinois | $65,430 | $65,457 | N/A |
| 3Colorado | $61,500 | $59,679 | 480 |
| 4Washington | $61,150 | $57,143 | 1,220 |
| 5Iowa | $58,900 | $67,113 | 130 |
| 6New Jersey | $54,850 | $50,411 | N/A |
| 7Minnesota | $53,990 | $54,745 | 260 |
| 8Florida | $49,410 | $47,779 | 1,240 |
| 9North Dakota | $48,540 | $54,564 | 80 |
| 10Missouri | $47,880 | $52,721 | 580 |
Job outlook
Is Barber a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Barbers | +3.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Barbers to change 3.3% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 6,900 openings are projected each year, 9.1% of the 75,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The need for barbers and hairdressers will stem primarily from demand for basic hair care services. In addition, an increased demand for hair coloring, hair straightening, and other advanced hair treatments is expected to continue over the projections decade.
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists will continue to compete with providers of specialized services, such as nail and skin care. Consumers often choose manicurists and pedicurists and skincare specialists for these services, rather than to visit hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists for them. Still, employment is expected to grow to meet increased demand for personal appearance services.
Getting in
How to become a Barber
All states require barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists to be licensed. To qualify for a license, candidates typically must graduate from a state-approved barber or cosmetology program and pass an exam.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Barber do?
Provide barbering services, such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair; trimming beards; or giving shaves.
Barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists provide haircutting, hairstyling, and other services related to personal appearance.
Day-to-day tasks
- Clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments.
- Cut and trim hair according to clients' instructions or current hairstyles, using clippers, combs, hand-held blow driers, and scissors.
- Question patrons regarding desired services and haircut styles.
- Clean work stations and sweep floors.
- Drape and pin protective cloths around customers' shoulders.
- Apply lather and shave beards or neck and temple hair contours, using razors.
- Record services provided on cashiers' tickets or receive payment from customers.
- Shape and trim beards and moustaches, using scissors.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists are full time, although part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary and often include evenings and weekends, times when barbershops and beauty salons may be busiest. Those who are self-employed and operate their own barbershop or salon may have long workdays, but they usually determine their own schedules.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where barbers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Self-employed workers80%
- Personal care services20%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 80% |
| Personal care services | 20% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.3
- Speaking3.1
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Monitoring2.8
- Critical Thinking2.6
- Active Learning2.6
- Writing2.3
- Learning Strategies2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.3 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.6 |
| Active Learning | 2.6 |
| Writing | 2.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Service Orientation2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Coordination2.6
- Time Management2.6
- Persuasion2.4
- Complex Problem Solving2.3
- Instructing2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 2.6 |
| Time Management | 2.6 |
| Persuasion | 2.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.3 |
| Instructing | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Point of sale POS software
- Video creation and editing software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Barber?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Barber |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.4
- Conventional3.9
- Social3.6
- Enterprising3.5
- Artistic2.7
- Investigative1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Barber
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
Makeup Artist, Theatrical and Performance
$97,150median a year
Most earn $23K to $167K
+6.1%Certificate - Production
Tailor, Dressmaker, and Custom Sewer
$41,640median a year
Most earn $30K to $64K
−8.8%No formal credential
More personal care and service careers
Median annual pay, with barbers highlighted
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,160
- Concierge$38,950
- Barber$38,210
- Tour Guide and Escort$38,120
- Hairstylist$35,790
- Manicurist and Pedicurist$35,760
- Nanny$34,980
- Childcare Worker$34,980
- Gambling Dealer$34,320
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $47,160 |
| Concierge | $38,950 |
| Barber | $38,210 |
| Tour Guide and Escort | $38,120 |
| Hairstylist | $35,790 |
| Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 |
| Nanny | $34,980 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Barber appears on
Questions
Barber: frequently asked questions
How much do Barbers make?
Barbers earn a median of $38,210 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 25% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $18.37/hr. The middle half earn between $31,570 and $58,960. The top 10% earn $76,460 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Barber?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Barbers.
Is Barber a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.3% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 6,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Barber do?
Barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists provide haircutting, hairstyling, and other services related to personal appearance. A core O*NET task: clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Operating system software, Presentation software.
Which states pay Barbers the most?
The highest state medians for Barbers are Oregon ($77,430), Illinois ($65,430), Colorado ($61,500) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Barber?
O*NET scores Barbers highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFJ, ESTJ, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.