39 Series · SOC 39-5011
Barbers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $38,210
- Median / year
- $76,460
- Top 10% earn
- +4.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 15,000
- US workers
Barbers earn a median of $38,210 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $38,210, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $28,600 (10th percentile) to $76,460 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 15,000 US workers. Oregon pays the most ($77,430), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Barbers earn a median of $38,210, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 9% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Personal Care and Service, it ranks #16 of 32 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.1% by 2033.
- $38,210
- Median annual wage
- Top 91%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #16 of 32
- in Personal Care and Service
- 2.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Oregon at $77,430. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Barbers (SOC 39-5011) pays a national median of $38,210 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $28,600 at the 10th percentile to $76,460 at the 90th, with a mean of $47,070 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 15,000 Americans work in this occupation across 36 reporting states and 39 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 8,400 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Postsecondary nondegree award. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Oregon pays the highest state median at $77,430, which is +103% above the national figure. The top metro is Colorado Springs, CO at $71,970 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$38,210
per year
Median Hourly
$18.37/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$47,070
average
Employment
15,000
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Barbers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$38,210 Bottom 9% higher than 9% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 39-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Barbers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 39-series occupations with growth data, Barbers sits on the slower-growing side at +4.1% growth and $38,210 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4.1%
About average
Annual Openings
8,400
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
2/100
Danger Index
8.8/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Barbers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Record services provided on cashiers' tickets or receive payment from customers.
- ▸ Shape and trim beards and moustaches, using scissors.
- ▸ Perform clerical and administrative duties such as keeping records, paying bills, and hiring and supervising personnel.
- ▸ Stay informed of the latest styles and hair care techniques.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$28,600
25th Percentile
$31,570
Median
$38,210
75th Percentile
$58,960
90th Percentile
$76,460
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 36 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $77,430 | +103% above national |
| 2 | Illinois | $65,430 | +71% above national |
| 3 | Colorado | $61,500 | +61% above national |
| 4 | Washington | $61,150 | +60% above national |
| 5 | Iowa | $58,900 | +54% above national |
| 6 | New Jersey | $54,850 | +44% above national |
| 7 | Minnesota | $53,990 | +41% above national |
| 8 | Florida | $49,410 | +29% above national |
| 9 | North Dakota | $48,540 | +27% above national |
| 10 | Missouri | $47,880 | +25% above national |
| 11 | Virginia | $46,730 | +22% above national |
| 12 | Louisiana | $44,430 | +16% above national |
| 13 | Connecticut | $41,400 | +8% above national |
| 14 | New Mexico | $39,100 | +2% above national |
| 15 | Nebraska | $39,090 | +2% above national |
| 16 | New York | $38,580 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Mississippi | $38,480 | +1% above national |
| 18 | California | $38,380 | same as national |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $36,920 | 3% below national |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $36,540 | 4% below national |
| 21 | Idaho | $36,040 | 6% below national |
| 22 | Michigan | $35,490 | 7% below national |
| 23 | Maryland | $35,400 | 7% below national |
| 24 | Maine | $35,300 | 8% below national |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $34,900 | 9% below national |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $34,860 | 9% below national |
| 27 | Arizona | $34,380 | 10% below national |
| 28 | Indiana | $33,600 | 12% below national |
| 29 | South Carolina | $32,900 | 14% below national |
| 30 | North Carolina | $31,050 | 19% below national |
| 31 | Texas | $30,760 | 19% below national |
| 32 | Georgia | $30,750 | 20% below national |
| 33 | Alabama | $29,120 | 24% below national |
| 34 | Arkansas | $25,640 | 33% below national |
| 35 | Utah | $25,370 | 34% below national |
| 36 | Tennessee | $24,690 | 35% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 39 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado Springs, CO | $71,970 | +88% above national |
| 2 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $64,310 | +68% above national |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $63,410 | +66% above national |
| 4 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $61,080 | +60% above national |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $57,960 | +52% above national |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $57,860 | +51% above national |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $56,580 | +48% above national |
| 8 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $55,890 | +46% above national |
| 9 | Tallahassee, FL | $54,750 | +43% above national |
| 10 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,700 | +30% above national |
| 11 | Fargo, ND-MN | $48,810 | +28% above national |
| 12 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $48,780 | +28% above national |
| 13 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $47,380 | +24% above national |
| 14 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $43,650 | +14% above national |
| 15 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $43,020 | +13% above national |
| 16 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $42,210 | +10% above national |
| 17 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $39,000 | +2% above national |
| 18 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $38,630 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $38,580 | +1% above national |
| 20 | Jackson, MS | $38,480 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,680 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37,530 | 2% below national |
| 23 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $37,440 | 2% below national |
| 24 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,300 | 5% below national |
| 25 | Tyler, TX | $36,060 | 6% below national |
| 26 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $35,890 | 6% below national |
| 27 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $35,490 | 7% below national |
| 28 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $35,370 | 7% below national |
| 29 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $34,900 | 9% below national |
| 30 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $33,570 | 12% below national |
| 31 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $33,000 | 14% below national |
| 32 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $32,770 | 14% below national |
| 33 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 18% below national |
| 34 | Pittsburgh, PA | $30,990 | 19% below national |
| 35 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $30,750 | 20% below national |
| 36 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $30,690 | 20% below national |
| 37 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $29,090 | 24% below national |
| 38 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $26,330 | 31% below national |
| 39 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $24,460 | 36% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 39 (personal care and service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Barbers make? ▼
What state pays Barbers the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Barbers? ▼
How dangerous is being a Barbers? ▼
Is Barbers a good career? ▼
How does Barbers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Barbers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Barbers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $58,960/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Oregon leads at $77,430/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.