Ask what "shorter" means
Pin down the haircut by asking what "shorter" means before deciding how much to take off.
Career profile
Barber
Barbers cut hair, trim and shape beards, and give shaves.
A customer says what they want, and your job is to turn that into a haircut they can check in the mirror.
A day in the life
Blend the sides into length
Work the sides with clippers, scissors and a comb until close-cut areas flow smoothly into longer hair.
Shape the beard they asked for
Trim beards and other facial hair to the requested style, using a razor when someone wants a shave.
Sweep up and disinfect tools
Sweep cut hair off the floor and wash and disinfect your tools before the next customer sits down.
Quick facts
Barber training + state license
United States · 2025
$38,210/year
United States · May 2025
3.3% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Barber training + state licenseA certificate or other nondegree program is typical; approved routes depend on your state.
Pay
$38,210/yearNational employee median: $18.37/hour. Self-employed earnings are excluded.
Outlook
3.3% projected growthAbout 6,900 barber openings a year are projected nationwide, including replacement openings.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You enjoy precise handwork.
- You ask questions before acting.
- You like working closely with clients.
Things to weigh
- Expect long stretches standing and schedules that may include evenings and weekends.
- A dissatisfied client can make an appointment tense; you still need to listen and respond calmly.
Where AI may help
Booking software can accept appointments online and send automatic text or email reminders.
What people still lead
You still handle the consultation, cutting, and shaving.
What we can’t predict yet
How much client communication will become automated remains uncertain, especially when requests need back-and-forth clarification.
Pay in context
Earnings
Use employee wages as a starting point. They do not measure the income of a barber running a business.
The middle and the spread
The median was $38,210 a year, or $18.37 an hour. The 10th–90th percentile range was $28,600–$76,460 annually, or $13.75–$36.76 hourly. These are wage percentiles, not beginner and expert rates. Annual figures assume 2,080 paid hours.
Pay in personal care businesses
Barbers employed in personal care services, including barbershops, had a median wage of $18.26 an hour.
What reaches your pocket
Tips and commissions are already included in employee wage figures. If you rent a chair, customer payments must also cover business expenses such as rent and products. Compare the pay arrangement, hours, and expenses before judging an offer.
Openings include replacements
Employment is projected to grow 3.3% from 2025 to 2035. The roughly 6,900 annual openings include replacing people who leave the occupation, so they are not all newly created jobs.
Getting started
Complete an approved barber program
- What the route involves
- Combine classroom learning with hands-on practice. California, for example, requires 1,000 hours of approved school training.
- What it can lead to
- Completing approved training lets you pursue the licensing exam. In California, you must pass the written exam and receive the license before charging for services.
- What to check
- Training hours and admission requirements vary by state; verify that the program qualifies you for the barber license you want.
Enter an approved paid apprenticeship
California's program normally spans two years, with at least 3,200 work hours plus classes.Paid
- What the route involves
- Where offered, learn in a shop while taking classes. California apprentices work with a licensed trainer through an approved sponsor.
- What it can lead to
- Complete the required work and classes, then apply for the licensing exam. Passing California's written exam leads to a professional license.
- What to check
- California requires age 16 or older, 10th-grade education or equivalent, and an apprentice license before work begins. You may need to find your own trainer and shop; sponsor and equipment fees can apply.
States license barbers. Check your state's age, education, training, and exam rules before enrolling.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Build consistent cuts and record client preferences for return visits.
Expand your techniques
Use advanced classes to learn styles and techniques beyond your initial training.
Manage or open a shop
With experience, you could add staffing, supplies, and advertising to your responsibilities.
Where you can work
A shop where you're an employee
The owner may set your shifts and service prices. Ask how appointments, supplies, and pay are handled before accepting a job.
- Indoors
- Physical demands
A rented chair inside a shop
You share the setting but operate your own business. You typically choose prices and hours, buy products, and keep your own income and expense records.
- Indoors
- Physical demands
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Choose a haircut photo and ask a friend to describe what they like about it. Sketch the desired length on the top, sides, and neckline, then check whether your sketch matches their request. Notice whether you enjoy turning vague preferences into precise choices.
Stay safe: Keep this to conversation and drawing; no cutting or shaving is needed.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Barbers — 39-5011.00. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics, 2025–35. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. National Wages: Barbers — 39-5011.00. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Concepts. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Barbers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Frequently Asked Questions. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Apprenticeship. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Square. Appointment Reminder Software. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Internal Revenue Service. Publication 4902: Tax Tips for the Cosmetology & Barber Industry. Accessed 2026-10-03.