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Hospitality, Travel, & FoodStable

Barber

Operational-level

Also known as: Barber, Barber Shop Operator, Barber Stylist, Hair Cutter

Hospitality, Travel, & FoodBachelor's Degree

Job Description

As a barber, you spend your days cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair for clients. You also trim beards and give shaves, using your hands to control tools like clippers, scissors, and razors. This is a hands-on role where you spend time standing and engage in face-to-face conversations with many different people throughout the day. It suits those who enjoy working with their hands, have strong communication skills, and like helping others look their best.
BarberingCosmetologyHair StylingGrooming ServicesHospitalityCustomer ServiceSmall BusinessBeauty

A Day in the Life

You push open the door of "The Sharp Fade," the familiar scent of aftershave and hair tonic greeting you. It's 8:30 AM in downtown Nashville. First, you flip on the lights, turn on the music, and power up the POS system. You wipe down your antique barber chair and arrange your tools: electric clippers, sharp shears, various combs, a feather duster, and the straight razor. Checking the digital booking software on your tablet, you see a full slate of appointments already lined up for the morning.

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Projected growth

+3.3%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

6,900

per year (US)

Jobs today

75,800

in 2025 → 78,300 (2035)

Typical entry education

Postsecondary nondegree award

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication
High
Working in a team
High
Contact with others
High
Freedom to make decisions
High
Time pressure
Moderate
Time spent sitting
Low
Working outdoors
Low
Indoor, climate-controlled
High
Dealing with customers
High
Level of competition
High

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Stable Job Market

The job outlook for barbers is stable, with about 6,900 job openings projected each year through 2035. The field is expected to see slight growth over the next decade. Barbers earn a median annual wage of $38,210.

Career ladder

Often before this role

  • Apprentice Barber
  • Barbering Student

Where it can lead

  • Master Barber
  • Salon Owner
  • Barbering Instructor

Impact of AI on this Job

AI is unlikely to directly replace barbers within the next 5-10 years due to the highly personalized, skilled, and human-centric nature of the craft. Instead, AI will likely serve as an assistive tool, streamlining administrative tasks like booking, inventory management, and potentially offering data-driven insights for style recommendations based on client preferences and trends. This integration will likely enhance efficiency and client experience, allowing barbers to focus more on their artistic skill and direct interaction.