Hairdressers & Cosmetologists vs Barbers
Median pay is about $2k higher for Barbers. Both usually start with the same education: postsecondary plus license.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Hairdressers & Cosmetologists | Barbers |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $35,790 | $38,210, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $30,120 | $31,570, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $48,830 | $58,960, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +7.7% Growing fast, higher | +3.3% Growing |
| Openings a year | 73,400 | 6,900 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Postsecondary plus license | Postsecondary plus license |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.4 / 5 | 2.4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Very low | Very low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 17th pct | 16th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: active listening, speaking, critical thinking, active learning, reading comprehension, monitoring.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.