If you’re considering a career as a barber, you may be wondering how much money you can expect to make. Becoming a barber is an excellent opportunity to turn your passion for hair styling into a viable and prosperous profession – but financial success will depend largely on the amount of effort and dedication that goes into the job. As a barber, you can expect to earn between $25,000 and $50,000 per year.
In this article, we’ll explore some important factors that influence barbers’ wages including location, experience, certifications, and more. You’ll also learn about tips, commissions, and advances that contribute to total income. Read on for valuable insights so that you can confidently move forward in your path towards becoming a successful professional barber!
How much money do barbers make on average per year?
The average barber salary can vary greatly depending on the location, hours worked, and other factors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for barbers in May 2019 was $26,530.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,570 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $47,000.
The average barber’s salary is made up of two primary sources: tips from clients and commission from working with products such as styling gels or hair dyes. Generally speaking, your tips will make up a larger portion of your income; this could be anywhere from 40–60% of your total yearly earnings.
Location can have a big impact on how much money you make as a barber. Working in urban areas tend to pay much higher wages than rural locations; some cities may even offer six-figure salaries for experienced stylists while rural ones may only offer an hourly wage around minimum wage.
Your experience level will also play a role in determining your salary. If you’re just starting out as a barber, you might expect to make less than an experienced stylist who has been cutting hair for years. This can be especially true if you work at an established business like a hotel chain or resort; customers trust an experienced cutter more than someone new to the field, so they may tip more generously or request their services more often.
Getting additional training can also help boost your income potential by teaching you new techniques such as modern styles and advanced coloring methods. That way not only do you become more valuable to clients but you open yourself up to passing along larger tips since customers appreciate their stylist being well-versed in the latest trends and tools of the trade.
If you’re thinking about becoming a professional barber there are plenty of ways to maximize your earning potential that go beyond simply getting better tips or working longer shifts—from learning worksite etiquette to mastering marketing skills that help bring in new customers every day. With dedication and hard work it is possible for some barbers to make upwards of six figures each year.
What determines how much a barber makes in a given year?
The amount a barber makes in a given year can vary greatly depending on several factors. The primary factor is experience; experienced barbers with more training and certifications tend to make more than those just starting out in the profession. Other important factors include location, hours worked, tips earned, and commission from products.
Location plays a big role in determining how much money a barber will make each year. Generally speaking, urban areas tend to pay higher wages than rural ones; some cities may even offer six-figure salaries for the most experienced of stylists while others may only offer an hourly wage around minimum wage. Additionally, working in areas that see high customer turnover such as hotels or resorts can mean larger tips since customers are more likely to recognize and trust an experienced barber with their locks.
The number of hours worked also contributes to how much income a barber brings home every year. Working full-time at 40 hours per week is a good way to maximize earnings; if you’re self-employed this especially applies, since you won’t be paying taxes or other benefits associated with employment.
Tips play another large role in the total income of barbers over the course of the year; these can range anywhere from 40–60% of your total yearly earnings depending on how generous your clients are feeling when they walk out of your chair! Having excellent customer service skills and learning different techniques like modern styles or advanced coloring methods can help increase both client satisfaction and tip value.
Finally, commission earned through product sales also comes into play when calculating yearly earnings for a professional barber. This could be anything from razors to styling gels or hair dyes—extra items that customers buy after their haircut or shave that earn you additional commission sometimes ranging up to double digit percentages based off the sale price!
No matter what calculations come into play there’s no denying that being a barber is an incredibly rewarding career—as long as you have dedication and hard work it is possible for some lucky professionals to make upwards of six figures each year!
What are some of the benefits to being a barber?
Being a barber offers a wide range of benefits that go beyond the typical workaday jobs often associated with the profession. Not only do you get to work with your hands, express yourself creatively, and build meaningful relationships with clients, but you also have the potential to make a great deal of money; experienced barbers can often make upwards of six-figures each year!
The flexibility that comes along with being self-employed gives barbers even more freedom. You can pick and choose which hours you want to work, when you take breaks or vacations, and control how many customers you serve in a day or a week. This means that if you’d like to spend more time with family or pursue other interests outside of cutting hair then it’s entirely possible as long as you manage your schedule accordingly.
Another bonus for self-employed individuals is not having to pay taxes or other benefits associated with full-time employment; all income made goes directly into your pocket without any extra deductions. Additionally, experienced professionals may even be able to charge higher rates than their competition as they become more proficient at their craft and bring in larger tips from satisfied clients.
Aside from these financial benefits there are also plenty of personal rewards that come along with being a barber. Working with people on a daily basis allows for meaningful connections—sometimes even friendships!—to form between stylists and those they serve. In addition to providing aesthetic pleasure through cutting hair it’s also an incredibly rewarding profession when it comes to helping others feel confident about their look which often carries over into other areas of life such as professional advancement or romantic relationships.
Although working as a barber does present certain challenges—such as keeping up on trends and tools of the trade—it’s an incredibly rewarding career no matter what wage level one is in. From building connections with customers to making great money annually there are plenty of advantages associated with this industry that make it worth pursuing for those interested in styling hair professionally!
How long does it typically take to become a licensed barber in the United States?
Becoming a licensed barber in the United States typically takes anywhere from six months to a year depending on your state’s regulations and whether you attend an accredited institution or not. In all states, you will need to complete at least 1,500 hours of education and training before applying for a license.
The process begins by researching which schools are approved by your state’s Board of Barbers and Cosmetology. You can find this information online, often on the board’s website or by calling them directly. If you choose to enroll in a school, the curriculum will include instruction on topics such as anatomy of the skin and hair, safety measures, hair cutting techniques, styling methods and chemistry related to color treatments. Many of these classes are offered online as well as in-person to make the process more convenient.
Once you have completed all coursework necessary for licensing—which can involve anywhere from 600-2,000 hours depending on your state—you can then take the written exam that is part of the licensure process. The test covers knowledge acquired in class such as safety requirements and laws specific to barbering. After passing this exam applicants must also submit fingerprints to their jurisdiction’s Board of Barbers and Cosmetology for a background check; upon successful completion of all these steps licensees will be eligible for employment as professional barbers.
The typical timeline for going from student to full-fledged professional does vary though; some states require additional certification or even an apprenticeship period before granting licensure while others may only ask for proof of educational transcripts or experience with haircuts that prove the licensee is knowledgeable enough to practice independently. It’s important to research what requirements each state has before starting down this path so there are no surprises along the way!
All in all though with dedication and hard work it is possible to become a certified barber within one year if all goes according to plan–a truly admirable achievement by any measure!
It is clear that becoming a barber is a good way to make a living. With the right qualifications and training, a barber can expect to earn an income ranging from $15-25 an hour, with senior-level barbers earning even more. Of course, ongoing education and staying up to date with trends are important for maintaining success in this field.
