Barber Shops — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the barber shops industry earns $37,431 per year ($18.00/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$37,431
Avg Annual Pay
33,534
Total Employees
7,728
Total Establishments
4
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Barber Shops Workers Earn?

At $37,431/year (equivalent to $18.00/hour for a full-time worker), barber shops wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical barber shops business employs 4 people. Most operations are small — often owner-operated with a handful of staff. Labor costs are manageable relative to revenue.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

46.1%

For the average barber shops business generating $325K/year with 4 employees at $37,431 each, total payroll represents roughly 46.1% of revenue. Labor is a significant cost but leaves room for other expenses and profit.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a barber shopsbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $48,660/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 4 employees = ~$149,724/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $18.00/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $325K/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Barber Shops revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do barber shops employees make?
The average barber shops employee earns $37,431 per year, which is equivalent to $18.00/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the barber shops industry?
The barber shops industry employs 33,534 workers across 7,728 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 4 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).