Barber
Licensed local services
Barbering is personal, local, licensed, tactile, and built on repeat trust.
- BLS median pay
- $18.73/hr (May 2024)
- Job outlook
- 4% growth for barbers, 2024-34
- Training path
- State program, often 9-18 months
- Entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- On-the-job training
- None
- Physical demand
- Medium
- Category
- Licensed local services
- AI resilience
- Moderate
Why This Role Is More Resilient
This career has moderate AI resilience. Some aspects may be affected by automation over time, but physical presence, local trust, or licensing still provide meaningful protection.
Best For
Social, detail-oriented people who want a portable service skill.
Avoid If
Standing all day, variable income, or constant customer interaction sounds exhausting.
First Step to Research
Compare state barber-hour requirements and local school placement outcomes.
How to Start: First Jobs, Common Mistakes, and Fit
Distilled from how working people and job postings describe the entry path. Use it for direction, then verify licensing, pay, and program details locally.
First job titles to search
Entry roles often aren't posted under "Barber." Search and apply under these titles too:
- Barber apprentice
- Apprentice barber
- Barber trainee
- Junior barber
- Barber/stylist
- Hair stylist apprentice
- Men's grooming apprentice
- Commission barber
Common beginner mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a school without checking state approval and local shop reputation.
- Renting a chair or suite before having enough clients.
- Underestimating taxes, booking software, product, insurance, laundry, marketing, and rent increases.
- Buying expensive tools before knowing the school/shop list.
- Assuming social media replaces consistent local client service.
Signs this could be a good fit
- You like hands-on service work and talking with clients.
- You can handle repetition while improving speed and quality.
- You are willing to market yourself locally.
- You can take feedback without getting defensive.
- You can tolerate variable income while building a book.
Warning signs it may not be
- You need stable full-time income immediately after school.
- You dislike self-promotion and client retention work.
- You want booth rent before having clients.
- Local schools are expensive and shops do not hire beginners.
- You are uncomfortable with sanitation rules, close contact, or standing all day.
What This Pays in Your State
Barber salary & licensing by state
Real state and metro wages, license steps, and where to train as a barber in every state we cover:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Sources and Verification
Pay, education, training, and outlook data sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists. Verified 2026-06-09. Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 39-5011 / Occupational Information Network (O*NET) 39-5011.00.
View BLS Occupational Outlook · View O*NET Profile
National median pay is a starting point only. State licensing, local wages, training costs, clinical placement rates, and local employer demand vary. Always verify with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET, state licensing boards, and local training providers before making a decision.