Do Barbers Make Good Money? California Pay and License Facts

Do barbers make good money? It depends on how you work, where you work, and how busy your chair stays. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median hourly wage for barbers was $18.37 in May 2025, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $36.76 an hour. Those figures include tips, but the BLS wage survey does not cover self-employed barbers, and BLS lists self-employed workers as 80 percent of barber jobs.

Picture a new barber in San Bernardino choosing between a paid chair at a busy shop and renting a booth. This guide covers the pay data, California licensing, and how booth rental compares with being an employee.

What BLS Data Says About Barber Pay

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook states: "The median hourly wage for barbers was $18.37 in May 2025. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13.75, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $36.76." It also notes that barbers "may receive tips from customers. These tips are included in the wage data shown".

The May 2025 national wage table lists barbers with employment of 15,000, a mean hourly wage of $22.63, and an annual mean wage of $47,070. BLS calculates annual figures "by multiplying the hourly wage rate by a typical work year of 2,080 hours," according to its technical notes. Your yearly income depends on the hours you actually book.

That 15,000 figure is far smaller than the full workforce. The Handbook says: "Barbers held about 75,800 jobs in 2025," and it lists self-employed workers at 80 percent. The wage survey itself "does not include the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers, or unpaid family workers". So the pay numbers describe barbers on a payroll, not booth renters or shop owners.

The outlook is steady. BLS projects employment of barbers specifically to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, while the broader group of barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists is projected to grow 7 percent.

Barber Pay in California

For a state view, the BLS May 2023 barbers profile lists California with employment of 1,500, an hourly mean wage of $19.27, and an annual mean wage of $40,080. The national hourly mean that year was $19.99. Treat these dated figures as a snapshot, since they cover payroll barbers only.

For a more recent local view, the BLS Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario release of July 9, 2026 shows the broader personal care and service group, which includes barbers along with many other jobs. Its May 2025 mean hourly wage was $20.71 in the region, compared with $19.74 for the United States.

Do Barbers Make Good Money? What Drives Income

The data shows a wide spread between the lowest and highest earners, so how you build your book matters. BLS notes that schedules "often include evenings and weekends," which is when shops "may be busiest," so being available when clients want cuts can shape your income.

BLS also describes the common career paths: "Some lease booth space from a salon owner. Others manage salons or open their own shop after several years of gaining experience." Each path changes who collects the money, who pays the costs, and who carries the risk.

Practical factors that often decide take-home pay include:

• Rebooking. Regular clients on a set schedule steady your week.
• Pricing. Prices that fit your market, whether that is Ontario, Los Angeles, or Sacramento.
• Chair costs. A commission split or a weekly booth rent comes out before you get paid.
• Hygiene and trust. Clean tools keep clients coming back; our barber tool sanitization guide covers California's steps.

Booth Rental vs Employee

The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology explains both setups in its workers' rights brochure for licensees. It says: "Independent contractors (booth renters) are licensees who rent or lease a workstation in someone else's establishment but maintains a separate business identity." It says employees "provide services under the direct control of an employer (establishment owner)".

According to the Board, booth renters handle the business side themselves, including:

• Scheduling their own appointments and setting their menu of services.
• Collecting client payments.
• Filing their tax returns and paying business taxes.
• Obtaining their own city or county business permit.

Employees get legal protections. The brochure states that "Employers are expected to pay employees the minimum hourly wage," with overtime "Paid at 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 8 in a day or 40 in a week". It adds: "In California, employers are legally required to have workers' compensation insurance." The brochure also gives an example of a booth renter whose work is controlled by the establishment owner, who then "could be considered an employee"

California Barber License Requirements

The Board's license requirements say an applicant must be "not less than 17 years of age" and must have "completed the 10th grade in the public schools of this state or its equivalent". A school course "shall consist of not less than 1,000 hours of practical and technical instruction". Qualified applicants then take the barber examination.

An apprenticeship is the other route. The Board's apprenticeship page says apprentices must complete "a minimum of 3200 OJT hours" over a two-year period. Employers must "Pay you at least minimum wage," and "As an apprentice you cannot work for commission or rent the station in the establishment you are assigned to work in."

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do barbers make an hour?

BLS reports a national median hourly wage of $18.37 for barbers in May 2025. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13.75, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $36.76. These figures include tips but do not cover self-employed barbers.

How long does it take to become a barber in California?

The Board requires a school course of at least 1,000 hours, or an apprenticeship of at least 3,200 on-the-job hours over a 2-year period. Applicants must be at least 17, have completed the 10th grade or its equivalent, and pass the barber exam.

Do booth renters get benefits?

Booth renters are typically self-employed, according to the Board, and handle their own payments, taxes, and permits. The Board says employees are covered by minimum wage and overtime rules, and that California employers must carry workers' compensation insurance for them.

Protect the Chair You Built

Whether you rent a booth or own the shop, your income depends on staying open. At Farmers Insurance - Young Douglas, we help barbers review general liability, professional liability, and property options, and our advice library has more guides for shop owners. Coverage depends on your policy. Get a free quote and coverage review with our team.

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Written by LaMonte Douglas, owner of Young Douglas Insurance, a Farmers Insurance agency serving California from Ontario. CA License #4091974.

Sources (accessed September 23, 2026): U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Barbers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, OEWS Table 1, May 2025, Technical Notes for May 2025 OEWS Estimates, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023: Barbers, Occupational Employment and Wages in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, May 2025; California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology: License Requirements, Apprenticeship, Understanding Workers' Rights and Responsibilities, Individual Licensee.

Last updated: September 23, 2026.