What is a Barber?

Position Description Provide barbering services, such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair, trimming beards, or giving shaves.

List of Barber Job Duties

• Order supplies.
• Perform clerical and administrative duties such as keeping records, paying bills, and hiring and supervising personnel.
• Keep card files on clientele, recording notes of work done, products used and fees charged after each visit.
• Shape and trim beards and moustaches, using scissors.
• Drape and pin protective cloths around customers’ shoulders.
• Provide skin care and nail treatments.

Qualities of a Barber

Below is a list of the skills most Barbers say are important on the job.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Barber

• Barber
• Barber Shop Operator
• Hair Cutter
• Barber Instructor
• Stylist

Barber Job Outlook

In the United States, there were 56,400 jobs for Barber in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 13.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 7,600 new jobs for Barber by 2026. The BLS estimates 6,200 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Barber are Washington, New Jersey, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in North Dakota, Nebraska, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Barber

Barbers make between $19,280 and $52,600 a year.

Barbers who work in Washington, Maryland, or Illinois, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Barbers in different U.S. states.

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$39,350
Arizona	$27,540
California	$35,850
Colorado	$32,670
Connecticut	$27,550
District of Columbia	$38,680
Florida	$22,180
Georgia	$29,140
Idaho	$24,310
Illinois	$42,930
Indiana	$30,170
Iowa	$32,770
Kansas	$25,220
Kentucky	$37,340
Louisiana	$31,180
Maine	$34,490
Maryland	$48,890
Massachusetts	$53,430
Michigan	$28,300
Minnesota	$33,550
Missouri	$24,970
Nevada	$27,490
New Jersey	$32,710
New York	$29,910
North Carolina	$30,870
Ohio	$37,120
Pennsylvania	$28,060
Texas	$31,990
Utah	$24,820
Virginia	$39,190
Washington	$55,980
West Virginia	$24,920
Wisconsin	$34,690

What Tools & Technology do Barbers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Barbers:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Windows
• Linux
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Appointment scheduling software
• Customer information databases

How do I Become a Barber?

What kind of Barber requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Barber?

Where do Barbers Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Barbers employed by various industries.

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Tiffany Bumgardner via Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license

More about our data sources and methodologies.