Barbers Career, Salary and Skills
Barbers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $38,210 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 15,000. Wage data is published for 72 locations.
Occupation description
Provide barbering services, such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair; trimming beards; or giving shaves.
O*NET code
39-5011.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$38,210
Hourly median
$18.37
Employment
15,000
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$28,600
10th
$31,570
25th
$38,210
Median
$58,960
75th
$76,460
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Service Orientation | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.88 | 2.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.75 | 2.12 |
| Monitoring | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Active Learning | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Coordination | 2.62 | 2.12 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments.
Technology
- Appointment scheduling software
- Customer information databases
- Linux
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Point of sale POS payment software
- YouTube
Barbers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Barbers Salary in TXMedian $30,760 · Employment 2,580
- Barbers Salary in CAMedian $38,380 · Employment 1,390
- Barbers Salary in FLMedian $49,410 · Employment 1,240
- Barbers Salary in WAMedian $61,150 · Employment 1,220
- Barbers Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $33,000 · Employment 790
- Barbers Salary in Houston, TXMedian $30,690 · Employment 630
- Barbers Salary in MOMedian $47,880 · Employment 580
- Barbers Salary in GAMedian $30,750 · Employment 550
- Barbers Salary in PAMedian $36,920 · Employment 530
- Barbers Salary in COMedian $61,500 · Employment 480
- Barbers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $37,680 · Employment 470
- Barbers Salary in WIMedian $36,540 · Employment 450
Related careers
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersNational median $49,100
- Shoe and Leather Workers and RepairersNational median $37,800
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room AttendantsNational median $36,300
- Furniture FinishersNational median $44,540
- Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal WorkersNational median $52,540
- Floral DesignersNational median $37,360
- Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNational median $35,510
- Retail SalespersonsNational median $35,410
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.