Barbers
Provide barbering services, such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair; trimming beards; or giving shaves.
Barbers provide barbering services, such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair; trimming beards; or giving shaves. The role reports a median annual salary of $38,960 in the US and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Postsecondary nondegree award, and shows low AI exposure (0.28 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include barbering techniques, hair, hair products, style hair, communicate with customers.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £24,279 a year for Hairdressers and barbers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £19,408 to £27,762 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 6221). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Service and sales workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Barbers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 5. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
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Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Economics and Accounting
- Psychology
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
- Sales and Marketing
A day in the life
You open the shop, sweep the floor, and clean and sterilise your scissors, combs, clippers and razors before the first customer walks in. A regular sits down, and you drape a cloth around his shoulders and ask how he wants his hair today. With clippers and scissors you shape a neat fade, checking the lines in the mirror as you go. Next comes a young man who wants a new style for a wedding, so you show him options and talk through what will suit his face. Mid-morning you give a traditional shave with warm lather and a sharp razor, taking care around the jaw and neck. The day is steady, with small talk about sport, news and family. Between customers you clean your station and restock supplies. Standing all day is tiring, but you enjoy the chat, the craftsmanship and seeing customers leave looking and feeling sharp.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments.
- Drape and pin protective cloths around customers' shoulders.
- Cut and trim hair according to clients' instructions or current hairstyles, using clippers, combs, hand-held blow driers, and scissors.
- Question patrons regarding desired services and haircut styles.
- Clean work stations and sweep floors.
- Apply lather and shave beards or neck and temple hair contours, using razors.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Barbers do?
Provide barbering services, such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair; trimming beards; or giving shaves.
What does a typical day look like in Barbers?
You open the shop, sweep the floor, and clean and sterilise your scissors, combs, clippers and razors before the first customer walks in. A regular sits down, and you drape a cloth around his shoulders and ask how he wants his hair today. With clippers and scissors you shape a neat fade, checking the lines in the mirror as you go. Next comes a young man who wants a new style for a wedding, so you show him options and talk through what will suit his face.
How much does Barbers earn?
The median annual salary for Barbers in the US is $38,960.
What is the job outlook for Barbers?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 76,000 workers.
How do I become a barbers?
The typical entry education is a Postsecondary nondegree award. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Barbers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include barbering techniques, hair, hair products, style hair, communicate with customers, work ergonomically. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Barbers?
Our AI-durability model gives Barbers a score of 0.28 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Barbers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.