Barbering is a personal care and industry job that involves cutting and styling the hair of boys and men.
Barbers often provide services comparable to those provided by cosmetologists, except beard grooming, shaving, and trimming.
Being a barber is not a piece of cake. It requires solid soft skills, and you might wonder how much do barbers make and it their pay even enough because of the hardship of the job.
According to Indeed, on the basis of 587 reviews, 53% of the Barbers in US thinks that their pay is enough as per their standard of living.
Keep reading this guide to find out the hourly and yearly maximum and minimum pay for barbers, along with other essential information.
Summary
| Guide | How Much Do Barbers Make? |
|---|---|
| Average Income | $35,000 per year |
| Highest Income | $70,000 per year |
| Qualification | 1500 hours of education in a barber school |
| Barber training program | Undergo approved training program |
Who Are Barbers?
Barbers cut, trim, and style hair for primarily male clientele; however, many women with shorter haircuts see them as well.
Face hair care, bespoke shaves, and other men’s grooming services are all available at most barbers.
A barber’s mission is to make each client feel relaxed and comfortable while their hair is trimmed or styled.
The barber also wants to make sure the customer likes their hairdo, length, and color, as well as their new facial hairstyle.
Barbers style their clients’ hair by cutting, trimming, shaping, and tapering it. Scissors, clippers, razors, and combs are standard instruments they utilize.
A barber will apply soap to the area to be shaved, which is commonly the beard or hair contour when grooming a client’s facial hair.
They will next use a razor to remove the undesirable hair. Barbers may also offer other services such as lotion application, shampooing, style, hair dyeing, and singeing, along with providing massage treatments for the scalp, neck, and face.
How Much Do Barbers Make?
Barbers earn around $35,000 per year on average, with salaries ranging from $30,000 to $40,000.
Most barbers earn between $14 and $18 per hour or between $110 and $150 per day based on an 8-hour workweek.
These data, however, do not provide a whole picture. Barber salaries vary greatly depending on a variety of criteria, including the number of hours worked, the number of cuts made, the price per haircut, the location of the barbershop, and the number of years of expertise.
As a result, the most excellent barbers may earn six figures. In the 75th to 90th percentile, barbers can earn $37,490-$48,480 per year.
On the other hand, barbering’s typical hourly and yearly salaries vary according to your area and role.
1. How Much Do Barbers Make an Hour?
Barbers make a minimum of $6.84 an hour and a maximum of $47.35 an hour.
2. How Much Do Barbers Make a Month?
Barbers make a minimum of $1,185 a month and a maximum of $8,207 a month.
3. How Much Do Barbers Make a Year?
Barbers make a minimum of $14,225 a year and a maximum of $98,480 a year.
Highest Salary Of Barbers In 2023
To earn the highest salary, you must first be experienced in being a barber, and the title generally determines that.
The highest title is called Master Barber, which takes years to achieve.
Once you achieve this, depending on the location, your barbershop, and other things, your pay could be up to $70,000 or even six figures annually if you live in a big state like New York.
But on average, the highest salary of barbers is around $70,000 annually, which is higher than double the average salary for a barber.
Is Being A Barber Good Or Bad?
If you like dealing with hair, styling them, and are a social person who likes to talk to people while working, being a barber is definitely fun and a good career choice.
However, if you can not multitask and do not like to talk to people, being a barber is a terrible choice as the job is all about talking with people other than being good at styling the hair.
Pros and Cons of Being A Barber
Pros
- Fun environment
- You get to be your own boss
- Ability to work under someone or individually
- No stress work
- You get to meet new people
- Good money
Cons
- Building clients base takes time
- Dealing with difficult customers
How To Become A Barber?
Here’s how you can become a Barber:
- You must also be 16 years old and possess a high school certificate or GED.
- To become a Barber, you will need to take the relevant training.
- The criteria for becoming a barber differ by state, but on average, you need 1500 hours of education in a barber school before being allowed to appear for the tests.
- After your training, you will need to pass the necessary license exam and obtain a license.
- In some states, you can still apply for a license even if you have a felony conviction on your record, while others do not. It’s best to check with the local board of your state to see if it’s legal. You should research the unique criteria for your state of residency before commencing your training program. Go to the state licensing requirements website to find out how many hours you need to become a barber.
- In addition to the training and licensing requirements, you also need to have the necessary soft skills. Excellent interpersonal and client service abilities are essential for a successful barber.
- Once you acquire the necessary skills and training, then you can start working as a Barber.
It’s vital in the hairstyling industry to have repeat customers who come back and suggest their friends and family members.
You must also have excellent listening skills in order to advise the customer on how they want their hair done, and you must be comfortable asking questions until you completely grasp what they require.
How to Start a Barber Shop?
How Many Hours Do Barbers Work?
If Barbers are employed under some, then on average, they are required to work for 8 hours.
But if they are self-employed, then they may work according to their wish. On average self-employed Barbers work for 8-16 hours.
What is the Starting Pay of Barbers?
The pay of Barbers depends on their experience, skills, and whether they are working independently or under someone.
The starting pay of Barbers is $6.84 an hour or $14,225 a year. With more time in the field, Barbers can make up to $47.35 an hour or $98,480 a year.
Barber Training Programs
To become a barber, completing an approved training program before applying for the necessary license is a must.
Barber schools teach hair washing, cutting, style, cleanliness and sanitation, coloring, and shaving, among other things.
Other topics covered in the seminars might include best business practices, opening a barbershop, and state barbering laws, rules, and regulations.
Every state has state-approved schools that give barber training programs.
After a little bit of research, you can pick the one that fits the best for you and start studying.
Conclusion
To conclude, being a barber is definitely not easy as it is a very social job that requires an immense amount of socializing and soft skills to handle your clients.
It is not only about your skills in cutting hair, as you might understand. However, they get paid more than the average pay in general in the States.
This means that they might be getting the money they deserve, especially Master Barbers, who could earn even six figures depending on their location.
FAQ
How much do barbers make when they have no practical experience?
They start from the very bottom salary range, which is lower than $30,000 annually, depending on the location.
How much do barbers make when they have their own saloon?
There is no limit to your income when you have your saloon, as you can hire new barbers to handle more clients with you.
How much do barbers make if they also cut women's hair?
This is not really common as barbers have experience with generally short hair compared to women.
But if they do work with women, they can charge women more as it is harder to deal with their hair since it is long.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
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