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The differences between barbers and licensed cosmetologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a barber has an average salary of $40,305, which is higher than the $36,637 average annual salary of a licensed cosmetologist.
The top three skills for a barber include work ethic, customer service and clips. The most important skills for a licensed cosmetologist are retail sales, customer service, and product sales.
| Barber | Licensed Cosmetologist | |
| Yearly salary | $40,305 | $36,637 |
| Hourly rate | $19.38 | $17.61 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 2,823 | 52,740 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 3 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
Barbers are individuals who provide hair services like trimming, cutting, grooming, shaving, and shampooing. Oftentimes, barbers assist the customers by walk-in or prebooked appointments for hair care. They use combs, scissors, clippers, and hair blowers to cut and style hair. As barbers, they welcome their clients and consult with them for their desired hairstyles. They even offer suggestions and recommendations for hairstyling. The skills necessary for this job are exceptional customer relations and service skills, communication skills, and the ability to follow instructions.
A Licensed Cosmetologist provides various services, such as hairstyling, skincare, nail treatments, and makeup. They are responsible for complying with health and safety standards.
Barbers and licensed cosmetologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Barber | Licensed Cosmetologist | |
| Average salary | $40,305 | $36,637 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $53,000 | Between $24,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Montclair, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Life Care Centers of America | The Lash Lounge |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Education |
There are a few differences between a barber and a licensed cosmetologist in terms of educational background:
| Barber | Licensed Cosmetologist | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Cosmetology | Cosmetology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between barbers' and licensed cosmetologists' demographics:
| Barber | Licensed Cosmetologist | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.9% Female, 25.1% | Male, 7.9% Female, 92.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 22.0% Asian, 6.6% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 7.9% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 12% |