Provide barbering services, such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair; trimming beards; or giving shaves.
National median · BLS
$38,210
▼ -1.93%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$47,070
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
15,000
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Barbers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$28,600
25th
$31,570
Median (50th)
$38,210
75th
$58,960
90th — top pay
$76,460
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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⇄
Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Barbers
BLS projects employment of barbers to grow 3.3% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 6,900 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
75,800 → 78,300
+2,500 jobs
Projected change
+3.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
6,900
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
No related experience required
Self-employed
79.9% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Barbers salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Barbers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening3.3
Social Perceptiveness3.1
Speaking3.1
Judgment and Decision Making2.9
Service Orientation2.9
Monitoring2.8
Reading Comprehension2.8
Active Learning2.6
Coordination2.6
Critical Thinking2.6
Top knowledge areas
Customer and Personal Service4.2
English Language3.6
Sales and Marketing3.5
Education and Training3.5
Public Safety and Security3.4
Law and Government3.1
Administration and Management3.1
Chemistry3.1
Software and technology used
FacebookLinuxMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordAppointment scheduling softwareCustomer information databasesPoint of sale POS payment softwareYouTube
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What barbers do
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.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Barbers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $38,210.
