My girlfriend says that when you walk into my barbershop, it's like being at a "Chuck E. Cheese for adults." It's just a bunch of us guys, hanging out and talking; for me, it feels like being back in the military because it has that sort of brotherly feeling to it.
CAREER
Barbers
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$29,970
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+8.3% (as fast as the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Barbers Do
Provide barbering services, such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair; trimming beards; or giving shaves.
Other Job Titles Barbers May Have
Barber Shop Operator, Barber Stylist, Stylist
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- 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.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Barbers
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Post-secondary certificate (29%)
Post-secondary certificate
Less than high school diploma
High school diploma or equivalent
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
High School
Certification / License
Barbering/Barber
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Find a successful mentor in your industry; my boss is working on opening his third shop right now, and seeing his drive has really inspired me to do something bigger, nicer, and better than the shop that I'm at now. That's a pretty lofty goal, since our shop is already internationally known, but having a driven mentor has inspired me to shoot for those kind of goals, and to pursue even bigger things.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
College Students
In order to do my job, you do have to go through that barbering course and get your license, but more importantly, you have to know that the education never stops. Try to get into a shop that's interesting or that will let you be creative, and then keep up your education through things like YouTube videos.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
