How much does a barber make? Barber salary and hourly pay
A barber in the US earns a median of $38,210 a year, about $18.37 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,600 and the top 10% earn over $76,460. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Oregon, has a median of $77,430.
Barber pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a barber make an hour?
The median barber earns $18.37 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $13.75 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36.76 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Lower 25% | $31,570 | $15.18 |
| Median (typical) | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Upper 25% | $58,960 | $28.35 |
| Top 10% | $76,460 | $36.76 |
Barber salary by state
Median annual pay for barbers in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,120 | $14.00 |
| Alaska | Not published | – |
| Arizona | $34,380 | $16.53 |
| Arkansas | $25,640 | $12.33 |
| California | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| Colorado | $61,500 | $29.57 |
| Connecticut | $41,400 | $19.90 |
| Delaware | Not published | – |
| District of Columbia | Not published | – |
| Florida | $49,410 | $23.75 |
| Georgia | $30,750 | $14.78 |
| Hawaii | Not published | – |
| Idaho | $36,040 | $17.33 |
| Illinois | $65,430 | $31.46 |
| Indiana | $33,600 | $16.15 |
| Iowa | $58,900 | $28.32 |
| Kansas | Not published | – |
| Kentucky | Not published | – |
| Louisiana | $44,430 | $21.36 |
| Maine | $35,300 | $16.97 |
| Maryland | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| Massachusetts | Not published | – |
| Michigan | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| Minnesota | $53,990 | $25.96 |
| Mississippi | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Missouri | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Montana | Not published | – |
| Nebraska | $39,090 | $18.79 |
| Nevada | Not published | – |
| New Hampshire | Not published | – |
| New Jersey | $54,850 | $26.37 |
| New Mexico | $39,100 | $18.80 |
| New York | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| North Carolina | $31,050 | $14.93 |
| North Dakota | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| Ohio | Not published | – |
| Oklahoma | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Oregon | $77,430 | $37.23 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,920 | $17.75 |
| Rhode Island | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| South Carolina | $32,900 | $15.82 |
| South Dakota | Not published | – |
| Tennessee | $24,690 | $11.87 |
| Texas | $30,760 | $14.79 |
| Utah | $25,370 | $12.20 |
| Vermont | Not published | – |
| Virginia | $46,730 | $22.47 |
| Washington | $61,150 | $29.40 |
| West Virginia | Not published | – |
| Wisconsin | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Wyoming | Not published | – |
Highest-paying states for barbers
- Oregon: $77,430 median
- Illinois: $65,430 median
- Colorado: $61,500 median
- Washington: $61,150 median
- Iowa: $58,900 median
The lowest medians are in Tennessee ($24,690), Utah ($25,370), Arkansas ($25,640), Alabama ($29,120), Georgia ($30,750). The most barber jobs are in Texas (2,580 jobs), California (1,390 jobs), Florida (1,240 jobs), Washington (1,220 jobs), Missouri (580 jobs).
How much does a barber make a month?
At the median salary of $38,210, a barber earns about $3,184 a month, $1,470 every two weeks or $735 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced barber pay
New barbers typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,600 a year and the lowest 25% under $31,570. The top 25% earn over $58,960 and the top 10% over $76,460. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Barber salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Barber | $38,210 |
| Cosmetologist | $35,790 |
| Massage therapist | $58,450 |
| Personal trainer | $47,160 |
| Bartender | $34,340 |
Common questions
How much does a barber make?
The US median is $38,210 a year ($18.37 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a barber make an hour?
The median is about $18.37 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $13.75 and the top 10% about $36.76 an hour.
Which state pays barbers the most?
Oregon has the highest median at $77,430, followed by Illinois ($65,430) and Colorado ($61,500).
How much does a barber make a month?
At the US median of $38,210 a year, about $3,184 a month or $1,470 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level barber make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,600 a year and the lowest 25% under $31,570, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of barbers make?
The top 10% earn over $76,460 a year; the top 25% earn over $58,960.
How much does a barber make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $38,380 in California, $30,760 in Texas, $49,410 in Florida, $38,580 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 39-5011, “Barbers”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. Note: BLS counts only employees, not self-employed barbers or business owners, whose income can be quite different. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.