The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in barber roles:

• Discuss hairstyles with male clients and cut hair into desired styles
• Perform facial shaving services, including both clean shaves and moustache/beard shaping
• Make clients feel comfortable by engaging in small talk, encouraging both tips and repeat visits
• Schedule appointments, recruit new clients, and take payments for services
• Less commonly: apply hair color, set permanents, or fit clients for hair pieces

A Day in the Life

Barbers are stylists who focus their talents on male clientele. They work in barbershops, performing hair cutting, shaving, and beard-trimming services. Barbers may work in one of three types of situations: they may be employed full-time by a barber shop owner, they may rent a booth in a barber shop, or they may own their own barber shop. Barbers who rent booths or own their own shops must recruit new clientele, while those who work for established shops may have more walk-in clients.

When clients arrive for appointments, barbers consult with clients as to what type of hairstyle they’re looking for. This may be as simple as a trim, or it may require flipping through pages of books or images on the internet to find the client’s preferred cut. Then, the barber washes and cuts the client’s hair to match the selected style. The barber may also shave the client’s face—if desired—or may trim and shape client’s facial hair. When finished, the barber dries and styles the client’s hair.

Barbers may also be in charge of scheduling client appointments and taking payments for services. One important role of the barber is also to make the client feel comfortable; the more comfortable the client feels, the more likely the barber will be to earn a tip, and the more likely the client will be to return. Talented, charismatic barbers have the potential to earn above-average hourly wages from service fees and tips, and satisfied clients are likely to return to the same barber for years or decades in the future.

Typical Work Schedule

Barbers generally work hours during first and second shifts, and they commonly work on weekends when people are off work. Barbers who own their own shops are able to set their own schedules and work whenever they want. Both part-time and full-time schedules are common in this profession.

Projected Job Growth

Due to population growth leading to more people who need routine haircuts, it’s expected that demand for barbers will grow in the coming decade.

Typical Employers

Most barbers work for either barbershops or salons. Many are also self-employed and operate their own barbershops or rent booth space in a barbershop owned by someone else.