Barber demographics and statistics in the US
Barber demographics research summary. Zippia estimates barber demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our barber estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about barbers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 12,880 barbers currently employed in the United States.
- 25.1% of all barbers are women, while 74.9% are men.
- The average barber age is 38 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of barbers is White (60.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (22.0%), Black or African American (6.8%) and Asian (6.6%).
- Barbers are most in-demand in Houston, TX.
- The professional industry is the highest-paying for barbers.
- Chicago, IL pays an annual average wage of $49,482, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women barbers earned 99% of what men earned.
- 8% of all barbers are LGBT.
- Illinois is the best state for barbers to live.
- Barbers are 85% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Barber demographics by:
Barber gender statistics
25.1% of barbers are women and 74.9% of barbers are men.
- Male, 74.9%
- Female, 25.1%
Barber gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 74.9% |
| Female | 25.1% |
Barber gender pay gap
Women earn 99¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$41,481
Female income
$41,122
Barber gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in barber positions over time. Currently, 25.1% of barbers are female.
Barber gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 70.62% | 29.38% |
| 2011 | 77.56% | 22.44% |
| 2012 | 74.61% | 25.39% |
| 2013 | 75.02% | 24.98% |
| 2014 | 72.33% | 27.67% |
| 2015 | 75.33% | 24.67% |
| 2016 | 71.39% | 28.61% |
| 2017 | 73.03% | 26.97% |
| 2018 | 73.49% | 26.51% |
| 2019 | 73.22% | 26.78% |
| 2020 | 73.22% | 26.78% |
| 2021 | 74.92% | 25.08% |
Barber related jobs gender ratio
We compared barbers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, barber apprentice and master barber have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Electrologist | 1% | 99% |
| Medical Esthetician | 4% | 96% |
| Licensed Esthetician | 5% | 95% |
| Barber | 75% | 25% |
| Master Barber | 78% | 22% |
| Barber Apprentice | 79% | 21% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Barber demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among barbers is White, which makes up 60.0% of all barbers. Comparatively, 22.0% of barbers are Hispanic or Latino and 6.8% of barbers are Black or African American.
- White, 60.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 22.0%
- Black or African American, 6.8%
- Asian, 6.6%
- Unknown, 3.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
Barber race
| Barber race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 60.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 22.0% |
| Black or African American | 6.8% |
| Asian | 6.6% |
| Unknown | 3.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.7% |
Barber race and ethnicity over time
See how barber racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Barber race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 67.96% | 12.84% | 4.69% | 11.90% |
| 2011 | 68.75% | 12.09% | 4.91% | 11.59% |
| 2012 | 63.12% | 15.74% | 4.70% | 14.62% |
| 2013 | 61.92% | 12.56% | 5.81% | 17.48% |
| 2014 | 61.69% | 13.42% | 5.32% | 16.53% |
| 2015 | 62.37% | 12.48% | 5.62% | 17.49% |
| 2016 | 61.62% | 11.76% | 4.41% | 20.30% |
| 2017 | 58.96% | 13.95% | 6.45% | 17.29% |
| 2018 | 63.00% | 8.73% | 4.80% | 21.14% |
| 2019 | 63.11% | 9.70% | 5.32% | 19.40% |
| 2020 | 59.72% | 8.23% | 5.38% | 22.24% |
| 2021 | 60.02% | 6.83% | 6.59% | 22.02% |
Barber wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown barbers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american barbers have the lowest average salary at $39,181.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $43,786 |
| White | $43,363 |
| Black or African American | $39,181 |
| Asian | $41,193 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $40,078 |
Average barber age
See how the average age of barbers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Barber age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| White | 40 | 30 |
| Black or African American | 41 | |
| Asian | 43.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 30.5 | 35 |
Barber age breakdown
The average age of barbers is 40+ years years old, representing 42% of the barber population.
Barber age breakdown
| Barber Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 42% |
| 30-40 years | 29% |
| 20-30 years | 29% |
Barber educational attainment
The most common degree for barbers is high school diploma, with 38% of barbers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 19% and associate degree degree at 18%.
- High School Diploma, 38%
- Associate, 19%
- Diploma, 18%
- Bachelor's, 14%
- Other Degrees, 11%
Barbers by degree level
| Barber degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 38% |
| Associate | 19% |
| Diploma | 18% |
| Bachelor's | 14% |
| Other Degrees | 11% |
Barber jobs you might like
Barber employment statistics
Most barbers work for a private in the retail industry.
Company size where barbers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where barbers work.
Barber jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 10% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 24% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 24% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 5% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 12% |
Barber jobs by company type
Employees with the barber job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most barbers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Barber jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 10% |
| Private | 85% |
Barber jobs by industry
The most common industries for barbers are retail, professional and media.
Barber industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Retail | 23% |
| Professional | 21% |
| Media | 8% |
| Technology | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 5% |
| Utilities | 5% |
| Construction | 5% |
| Education | 5% |
| Hospitality | 5% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Automotive | 3% |
| Insurance | 3% |
Barber turnover and employment statistics
Barber unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for barbers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Barber unemployment rate by year
| Year | Barber unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.74% |
| 2011 | 4.13% |
| 2012 | 5.11% |
| 2013 | 5.35% |
| 2014 | 2.63% |
| 2015 | 2.05% |
| 2016 | 2.25% |
| 2017 | 2.72% |
| 2018 | 1.81% |
| 2019 | 1.91% |
| 2020 | 5.67% |
| 2021 | 8.26% |
Average barber tenure
The average barber stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 8,138 barbers resumes in Zippia's database.
Barber tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 13% |
| 1-2 years | 24% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 19% |
| 8-10 years | 9% |
| 11+ years | 21% |
Barber LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of barbers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Nail Technician | 5.12% | 9,115 |
| Barber | 8.10% | - |
| Esthetician-Electrologist-Permanent Make-Up | 8.70% | 25,326 |
| Wig Stylist | 11.87% | 10,231 |
| Makeup Instructor | 12.20% | 25,541 |
Similar barber jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Nail Technician | 5.12% | 9,115 |
| Esthetician-Electrologist-Permanent Make-Up | 8.70% | 25,326 |
| Wig Stylist | 11.87% | 10,231 |
| Makeup Instructor | 12.20% | 25,541 |
Foreign languages spoken by barbers
The most common foreign language among barbers is Spanish at 85.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 2.3% and Italian is the third-most popular at 2.3%.
- Spanish, 85.5%
- French, 2.3%
- Italian, 2.3%
- Portuguese, 1.7%
- Korean, 1.2%
- Other, 7.0%
Barber languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 85.5% |
| French | 2.3% |
| Italian | 2.3% |
| Portuguese | 1.7% |
| Korean | 1.2% |
| Other | 7.0% |
