How much do barbers make?
Answer
Barbers in the US earned a median of $38,210 a year ($18.37 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $31,570 to $58,960.
- Median annual pay
- $38,210
- Mean $47,070
- Median hourly pay
- $18.37
- Mean $22.63
- Typical range (10th–90th)
- $28.6K–$76.5K
- $28,600 to $76,460
- US jobs
- 15,000
- +3.3% projected, 2025–35
BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology
How to become a barber: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: Oregon
Barber pay range
Annual wages, May 2025
- 10th percentile$28,600
- 25th percentile$31,570
- Median$38,210
- 75th percentile$58,960
- 90th percentile$76,460
Half of all barbers earned more than $38,210 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $28,600; the top 10% made over $76,460. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $31,570 to $58,960.
These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,600 | $13.75 | $2,383 |
| 25th | $31,570 | $15.18 | $2,631 |
| Median (50th) | $38,210 | $18.37 | $3,184 |
| 75th | $58,960 | $28.35 | $4,913 |
| 90th | $76,460 | $36.76 | $6,372 |
| Mean (average) | $47,070 | $22.63 | $3,923 |
Barber salary by state
Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024
Highest-paying states
- 1. Oregon $77,430
- 2. Illinois $65,430
- 3. Colorado $61,500
- 4. Washington $61,150
- 5. Iowa $58,900
Lowest-paying states
- 36. Tennessee $24,690
- 35. Utah $25,370
- 34. Arkansas $25,640
- 33. Alabama $29,120
- 32. Georgia $30,750
Best after cost of living: Oregon. Its median of $77,430 is worth about $74,912 at national-average prices.
| Alabama | $29,120 | 33 | $32,784 | 31 | $14.00 | — | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Arizona | $34,380 | 27 | $34,149 | 27 | $16.53 | — | — |
| Arkansas | $25,640 | 34 | $29,493 | 34 | $12.33 | 170 | 0.13 |
| California | $38,380 | 18 | $34,664 | 26 | $18.45 | 1,390 | 0.08 |
| Colorado | $61,500 | 3 | $59,679 | 4 | $29.57 | 480 | 0.17 |
| Connecticut | $41,400 | 13 | $39,958 | 16 | $19.90 | 330 | 0.20 |
| Delaware | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Florida | $49,410 | 8 | $47,779 | 11 | $23.76 | 1,240 | 0.13 |
| Georgia | $30,750 | 32 | $31,934 | 32 | $14.79 | 550 | 0.11 |
| Hawaii | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Idaho | $36,040 | 21 | $37,741 | 20 | $17.33 | 130 | 0.15 |
| Illinois | $65,430 | 2 | $65,457 | 3 | $31.46 | — | — |
| Indiana | $33,600 | 28 | $36,002 | 23 | $16.15 | 370 | 0.12 |
| Iowa | $58,900 | 5 | $67,113 | 2 | $28.32 | 130 | 0.08 |
| Kansas | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kentucky | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Louisiana | $44,430 | 12 | $50,370 | 10 | $21.36 | 40 | 0.02 |
| Maine | $35,300 | 24 | $36,373 | 22 | $16.97 | 50 | 0.08 |
| Maryland | $35,400 | 23 | $33,727 | 29 | $17.02 | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Michigan | $35,490 | 22 | $36,885 | 21 | $17.06 | — | — |
| Minnesota | $53,990 | 7 | $54,745 | 6 | $25.96 | 260 | 0.09 |
| Mississippi | $38,480 | 17 | $44,254 | 13 | $18.50 | — | — |
| Missouri | $47,880 | 10 | $52,721 | 8 | $23.02 | 580 | 0.20 |
| Montana | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | $39,090 | 15 | $43,384 | 14 | $18.79 | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New Jersey | $54,850 | 6 | $50,411 | 9 | $26.37 | — | — |
| New Mexico | $39,100 | 14 | $42,402 | 15 | $18.80 | 50 | 0.05 |
| New York | $38,580 | 16 | $35,748 | 24 | $18.55 | — | — |
| North Carolina | $31,050 | 30 | $32,918 | 30 | $14.93 | 330 | 0.07 |
| North Dakota | $48,540 | 9 | $54,564 | 7 | $23.34 | 80 | 0.18 |
| Ohio | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oklahoma | $34,860 | 26 | $39,684 | 17 | $16.76 | 170 | 0.10 |
| Oregon | $77,430 | 1 | $74,912 | 1 | $37.22 | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | $36,920 | 19 | $37,839 | 19 | $17.75 | 530 | 0.09 |
| Rhode Island | $34,900 | 25 | $34,122 | 28 | $16.78 | — | — |
| South Carolina | $32,900 | 29 | $35,094 | 25 | $15.82 | 220 | 0.09 |
| South Dakota | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tennessee | $24,690 | 36 | $26,875 | 35 | $11.87 | — | — |
| Texas | $30,760 | 31 | $31,693 | 33 | $14.79 | 2,580 | 0.18 |
| Utah | $25,370 | 35 | $25,662 | 36 | $12.20 | 320 | 0.18 |
| Vermont | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Virginia | $46,730 | 11 | $46,220 | 12 | $22.47 | 160 | 0.04 |
| Washington | $61,150 | 4 | $57,143 | 5 | $29.40 | 1,220 | 0.34 |
| West Virginia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | $36,540 | 20 | $38,833 | 18 | $17.57 | 450 | 0.15 |
| Wyoming | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure (15 states). State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.
Best-paying metro areas for barbers
38 metro areas with published pay
| Metro area | Median | Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | $71,970 | $71,465 | 70 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $64,310 | $61,003 | 180 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $63,410 | $57,058 | — |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $61,080 | $57,741 | 290 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $57,960 | $60,954 | 260 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $57,860 | $58,160 | 110 |
| Springfield, MO | $56,580 | $63,871 | 100 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $55,890 | $54,571 | 60 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $54,750 | $58,295 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,700 | $47,975 | — |
| Metro area | Jobs | Median | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 790 | $33,000 | $32,011 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 630 | $30,690 | $31,117 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 470 | $37,680 | $33,179 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 400 | $32,770 | $33,416 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 360 | $30,750 | $30,732 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 350 | $29,090 | $30,713 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 340 | $36,300 | $31,799 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 340 | $37,530 | $36,595 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 290 | $61,080 | $57,741 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 260 | $57,960 | $60,954 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).
What moves barber pay: employers and settings
The figures on this page cover only barbers who work for someone else: about 15,000 people. BLS estimates that 79.9% of barbers are self-employed, mostly shop owners and chair or booth renters, and their earnings are not in these wage figures. A renter keeps what clients pay after rent and supplies, so income depends on how full the chair stays.
For employees, the size of a steady clientele matters most. A barber with a full book of regulars at a busy shop usually earns more than one still building a following, which is part of the wide gap between $28,600, the 10th percentile, and $76,460, the 90th. Price point counts too: shops that charge more per cut and add beard and shave services bring in more per hour.
Nearly all employed barbers, 14,670, work in personal care services, with a median of $37,990. The few in state government jobs earn a median of $57,730. Location matters a great deal: Oregon has the highest median at $77,430, followed by Illinois at $65,430, Colorado at $61,500, and Washington. Oregon also leads after cost of living ($74,912 adjusted). Tennessee ($24,690) and Utah are at the bottom.
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Care Services | 97.8% | $37,990 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals | 0.3% | $57,730 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | 0.3% | $39,270 |
| Employer type | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private employers | 14,880 | $38,110 |
| State government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 90 | $45,620 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).
Barber pay over time
Median annual pay, 2015–2025
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
The median rose from $24,850 in 2015 to $38,210 in 2025, up 54% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2015 median is worth $33,592 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay grew 14% over the period.
BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.
What barbers do
A barber cuts, trims and shapes hair, mostly short men's styles done with clippers, shears and razors, and grooms beards and mustaches. Classic barber work includes fades and tapers, lineups, beard sculpting and hot-towel straight-razor shaves, along with shampooing and scalp care. Depending on the state and the license, some barbers also color, relax or perm hair and give facials.
Most barbers work in barbershops, and the majority are self-employed: they own a shop or rent a chair or booth from an owner and keep their own book of clients. Employees usually work on commission, hourly pay or a mix, and tips add to what they take home. A smaller number cut hair in hospitals, state facilities and other institutions. Barbers stand most of the day, work evenings and Saturdays when customers are free, and must clean and disinfect every tool between clients to meet state board sanitation rules. Owners also handle booking, payments, supplies, hiring and marketing, often through social media.
A typical day
- Ask each client how they want their hair and beard, and look at hair type and growth patterns
- Cut fades, tapers and classic styles with clippers, trimmers and shears
- Shape beards and edge hairlines; give straight-razor shaves with hot towels and lather
- Shampoo hair and treat the scalp
- Disinfect clippers, combs and razors and wipe down the chair after every client
- Take payments, book the next appointment and keep notes on each client's cut
- Post photos of finished cuts to bring in new customers
Also called: barbers, barber shop operator, barber stylist, hair stylist, stylist.
How to become a barber
Full guideTo become a barber, complete a state-approved barber program (Texas, for example, requires 1,000 hours), then pass your state's written and practical exams to get a barber license. Most people finish in about 8 months to 1.5 years, depending on the state's hour requirement and whether they attend full time.
- Typical time
- About 1 year
- Fastest: About 8 months
- Minimum education
- Certificate from a state-approved barber program (school hours set by each state)
- License
- Required in all 50 states
- Typical training cost
- $3.7K–$7.9K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a barber: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.
Is it worth it? Training cost against pay
Compare careers- Training time
- About 1 year
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $3.7K–$7.9K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $38,210
- $12,770 below the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 10–21%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
The median for barbers is below the median for all US jobs, so the case for training rests on the work itself, entry speed and local pay rather than a pay premium. This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.
Job outlook for barbers
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +3.3%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 75,800
- 78,300 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 6,900
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- 79.9%
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS projects barber jobs, counting the self-employed, to grow 3.3% from 2025 to 2035, from 75,800 to 78,300, close to the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 6,900 openings are expected each year, mostly to replace barbers who retire or leave the trade. BLS ties demand mainly to basic haircuts, which people need every few weeks, and expects continued demand for color, straightening and other advanced hair treatments.
Related careers and their pay
- Cosmetologist$35,790
- Esthetician$45,330
- Nail Technician$35,760
- Shampooers$32,600
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance$97,150
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Barber salary FAQ
How much do barbers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for barbers was $18.37 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $13.75 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $36.76. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.
Which state pays barbers the most?
Oregon has the highest median pay for barbers, $77,430 a year, followed by Illinois ($65,430) and Colorado ($61,500). After adjusting for each state's price level, Oregon comes out ahead at about $74,912 in national-average dollars.
Do barbers make six figures?
Few do: based on the BLS percentiles, fewer than 10% of barbers earn more than $100,000 a year. The median is $38,210, and the top 10% earn more than $76,460. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.
What is the difference between a barber and a cosmetologist?
Barbers focus on short cuts, clipper work, beards and straight-razor shaves, mostly for men. Cosmetologists learn a wider range, including long-hair cutting, color, chemical services, makeup, skin care and nails, but usually not shaving with a straight razor. Each needs its own state license, though many states credit some cosmetology training toward a barber license or the other way around.
Do barbers get paid hourly or by commission?
It varies by shop. Employees may get an hourly wage, a commission on each service (often with product sales on top), or a mix, plus tips. Many barbers are not employees at all: they rent a chair or booth for a weekly or monthly fee and keep the rest of what they charge, which means setting their own prices and finding their own clients.
Is barbering hard on your body?
It can be. Barbers stand most of the day and hold their arms up and their wrists bent while cutting, which can lead to back, shoulder, wrist and foot pain over the years. Good footwear, an adjustable chair, lightweight clippers and breaks between clients help. Frequent contact with disinfectants and hair products can also irritate the skin, so many barbers use gloves for chemical work.
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 39-5011
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (39-5011.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- Barbers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists: Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- NIC Exam Types, National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology · checked October 28, 2026
- Apply for a Class A Barber License, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · checked October 28, 2026
- What is NACCAS?, National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) · checked October 28, 2026
- Cosmetologist to Barber, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · checked October 28, 2026
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