Barber salary in the U.S.
Barbers in the U.S. earn a median of $38,210 a year ($18.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 15,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,460 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $47,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for barbers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 25th percentile | $31,570 | $15.18 |
| Median | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| 75th percentile | $58,960 | $28.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,460 | $36.76 |
| Average (mean) | $47,070 | $22.63 |
Half of barbers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,184.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,592.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,469.62 |
| Weekly | $734.81 |
| Hourly | $18.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Barber salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $77,430 | n/a |
| Illinois | $65,430 | n/a |
| Colorado | $61,500 | 480 |
| Washington | $61,150 | 1,220 |
| Iowa | $58,900 | 130 |
| New Jersey | $54,850 | n/a |
| Minnesota | $53,990 | 260 |
| Florida | $49,410 | 1,240 |
| North Dakota | $48,540 | 80 |
| Missouri | $47,880 | 580 |
| Virginia | $46,730 | 160 |
| Louisiana | $44,430 | 40 |
| Connecticut | $41,400 | 330 |
| New Mexico | $39,100 | 50 |
| Nebraska | $39,090 | n/a |
| New York | $38,580 | n/a |
| Mississippi | $38,480 | n/a |
| California | $38,380 | 1,390 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,920 | 530 |
| Wisconsin | $36,540 | 450 |
| Idaho | $36,040 | 130 |
| Michigan | $35,490 | n/a |
| Maryland | $35,400 | n/a |
| Maine | $35,300 | 50 |
| Rhode Island | $34,900 | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $34,860 | 170 |
| Arizona | $34,380 | n/a |
| Indiana | $33,600 | 370 |
| South Carolina | $32,900 | 220 |
| North Carolina | $31,050 | 330 |
| Texas | $30,760 | 2,580 |
| Georgia | $30,750 | 550 |
| Alabama | $29,120 | n/a |
| Arkansas | $25,640 | 170 |
| Utah | $25,370 | 320 |
| Tennessee | $24,690 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for barbers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | $71,970 | 70 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $64,310 | 180 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $63,410 | n/a |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $61,080 | 290 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $57,960 | 260 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $57,860 | 110 |
| Springfield, MO | $56,580 | 100 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $55,890 | 60 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $54,750 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,700 | n/a |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $48,810 | 50 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $48,780 | n/a |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $47,380 | n/a |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $43,650 | 170 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $43,020 | 130 |
Metro areas with the most barbers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 790 | $33,000 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 630 | $30,690 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 470 | $37,680 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 400 | $32,770 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 360 | $30,750 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 350 | $29,090 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 340 | $36,300 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 340 | $37,530 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 290 | $61,080 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 260 | $57,960 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 220 | $26,330 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 210 | $33,570 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 200 | $35,370 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 190 | $39,000 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 180 | $64,310 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Skincare Specialist | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Shampooer | $32,600 | $15.67 |
| Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | $97,150 | $46.71 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Recreation Worker | $36,560 | $17.58 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Animal Caretaker | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $48,560 | $23.34 |
| Residential Advisor | $42,240 | $20.31 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 39-5011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a barber make in the U.S.?
The median salary for barbers in the U.S. is $38,210 a year, or $18.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid barbers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of barbers in the U.S. earn at least $76,460 a year. The top 25% earn $58,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for barbers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,600 a year, and a quarter of barbers earn $31,570 or less.
How many barbers work in the U.S.?
About 15,000 barbers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.