Barber Salary

When deciding whether to become a barber, chances are pay is factoring into your decision. This article will tell you about the average salaries and anticipated job growth for barbers throughout the United States, the highest paying metropolitan areas, how barbers are paid, and how to increase your earnings.

National Barber Salary and Growth

According CareerOneStop, barbers earned a median annual salary of $38.960 ($18.73 per hour). Pay ranged from about $27,770 to $78,440.

But before you think "wow, that's not what I want to earn," (after all, it is less than the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says is the average pay across all fields), you should know that this estimate may be very different from reality! A study from a cosmetology organization showed that the average pay for those beauty professionals was much higher than what's reported by the BLS due to the methodology used to create the estimate—and it's the same methodology for every career.

The estimate does not include the self-employed, who make up 76% of all barbers. Over three-fourths of barbers aren't included in pay estimates at all! The other primary barber career field is personal care services, where they average $18.35 per hour.

That said, the BLS gives us more than salary data. For instance, it tells us that the number of jobs for barbers is expected to grow by 5% between 2024 and 2034, which is higher than the average for all occupations.

Barber Average Pay by State: At a Glance

Barbers are paid differently based on location due to factors like cost of living and states' minimum wages.

How Much Do Barbers Make in Each State?

Source: CareerOneStop (2025)

Barber Salary Near You

If you want to learn more about how barbers are trained and paid in your state, check out the table below for more information.

Best Cities for Barber Salaries

Below is a list of the highest-paying metropolitan areas for barbers. When viewing the list, it's important to remember your area's cost of living plays a role in pay.

Best Areas for Barber Salaries

Source: BLS (2025)

How Are Barbers Paid?

Barber pay methods are largely based on whether you work for someone else or for yourself.

If you work at a barbershop or salon, you'll likely be paid by the hour (though salaries aren't unheard of). Chances are you'll also be allowed to take tips. When you work for someone else, your employer generally brings clients to you and sets your hours. This may be the path for you if you like stability in paychecks and, typically, a level of predictability in work hours.

Self-employed barbers may run their own shops, rent a space from another beauty professional, work from home, or perform house calls. When you're self-employed, you have more control over your hours and the types of clients you see, though your paychecks can be less predictable. You need to learn to market yourself to bring in more business and ensure you do your self-employment taxes correctly.

How to Improve Your Barber Salary

One of the best ways to raise your barber salary is through continuing education classes. Some states, like Ohio, require continuing education for you to maintain your barber license. While others may not, chances are you can find a workshop covering a skill you want to master. The more skills you have, the more you can offer clients.

In addition to continuing education, you could consider earning a second license. People who serve as both barbers and cosmetologists are common. Being able to do both could raise your pay and number of clients. As a working barber, you may be able to complete a crossover program. This type of training allows you to earn your new license in less time and often at a lower cost than a full program.

In addition to keeping your resume updated, maintain a portfolio of your work. A great portfolio may help you land a new job if you're searching for higher-paying employment.

As with most industries, the longer you work, the higher your pay may be. Time working in the field often factors into opportunities for raises and is usually one thing potential employers look at.

You could also find unique ways to earn additional money during your off-hours. This could be anything from tasks unrelated to barbering, like dog walking, to creating paid online tutorials for people who want to learn how to best maintain their hair between appointments.