Health & Beauty
Barber
Cut, fade, shave, and style — usually for men. Independent barbers booking via apps regularly clear $70–120k. Cult-favorite barbers earn even more.
no-degree-requiredquick-startself-employmentcreativehands-on
48
ROI · Moderate
Investment vs return
Cost · time · demand normalized 0–100
Salary progression
What you'll earn over your career
$28k
$48k
$85k
Entry
Mid-career
Senior
10-yr outlook
+8%
+8% (Faster than avg)
Open positions
18,000
Estimated nationwide
Entry paths
How to get here
Multiple paths lead to this career. Compare time, cost, online vs in-person delivery, and program links.
Fastest ROI
Trade School In Person
Barber License (state)
Time
9–15 months
Cost
$5,000 – $15,000
Apps like Booksy/Squire let independent barbers fill their own books.
Affiliate disclosure: Some of the program links above may be affiliate partnerships. If you enroll, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to programs we have actually reviewed against our methodology. See our methodology for how we evaluate schools.
Quick math
If you took the fastest path…
You'd train for
9–15 months
You'd spend (avg)
$10,000
Starting salary
$28,000
Mid-career
$48,000
Read more
Articles & resources
Sources: BLS OOH 2024