Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is a barber and how to become one
Barbers are hairdressers for a primarily male clientele. They cut, style, and color hair, trim, groom, and shave facial hair, and give massages. They welcome customers, wash and condition their hair, assess the situation, and get to work.
Choosing a barber is a question of trust, and it is not a decision taken lightly. Barbers with a solid customer base not only keep up to date with the latest hair styling trends, but they also know what suits their clients best. They know when to share their opinion and when to hold back, what to discuss, and when to keep quiet.
You will need a license in your state to become a barber, the best way to obtain one is to go through technical or vocational school training. You will find plenty of hairstylist apprenticeship opportunities as well, as not everybody has numerous and patient family members to practice on without grave consequences.
Avg. Salary $40,305
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 11%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.67%
Asian 6.59%
Black or African American 6.83%
Hispanic or Latino 22.02%
Unknown 3.86%
White 60.02%
Genderfemale 25.08%
male 74.92%
Age - 36American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 36Stress level is moderate
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Barber career paths
Key steps to become a barber
Explore barber education requirements
Start to develop specific barber skills
Skills Percentages Work Ethic 18.17% Customer Service 17.29% Clips 17.04% Cleanliness 14.12% Retail Sales 7.02% Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed barber usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed barber in most of states. 44 states require barbers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License url Alabama Specific course required State exam required Licensed Barber Alaska Specific course required State exam required Barber Arkansas Degree required State exam required Barber California Specific course required State exam required Barber Colorado Specific course required State exam required Barber Research barber duties and responsibilities
- Train under license barber, oversee inventory control and manage cleanliness.
- Work with all types of tools such as scissors, brushes, razors, trimmers, dryers, and clippers.
- Provide leadership, mentorship, and training to staff.
- Clean and sterilize various instruments including combs, clippers etc.
Prepare your barber resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your barber resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a barber resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable barber resume templates
Build a professional barber resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your barber resume.
Apply for barber jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a barber job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first barber job
Are you a barber?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average barber salary
The average barber salary in the United States is $40,305 per year or $19 per hour. Barber salaries range between $30,000 and $53,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do barbers rate their job?
Barber reviews
I like shaving of Bear and applying of hair dye and sporting waves
Styles like drowning in hair
Search for barber jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
