What Do Barber Do?

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

A Day in the Life of a Barber

• Recommend and sell lotions, tonics, or other cosmetic supplies.
• Shape and trim beards and moustaches, using scissors.
• Apply lather and shave beards or neck and temple hair contours, using razors.
• Suggest treatments to alleviate hair problems.
• Clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments.
• Provide face, neck, and scalp massages.

Barber Required Skills

When polled, Barbers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Barber Shop Operator
• Barber Instructor
• Hair Cutter
• Tonsorial Artist
• Barber

Is There Going to be Demand for Barbers?

There were about 56,400 jobs for Barber in 2016 (in the United States). 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 6,200 job openings in this field each year.

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.

Salary for 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

Tools & Technologies Used by Barbers

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Barbers may use on a daily basis:

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

Becoming a Barber

Individuals working as a Barber have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Barbers Sector

Barbers work in the following 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.