Barbers vs Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists: $38K vs $36K Median Pay

Barbers vs Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists: what changes?

Consider Barbers if you want to provide barbering services, such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair; trimming beards; or giving shaves. Consider Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists if you would rather provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. Both list postsecondary nondegree award; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Barbers and Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Barbers

National median pay (2025): $38,210
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 6,900

Know before you choose

Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

See the full Barbers brief

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

National median pay (2025): $35,790
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 73,400

Know before you choose

Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

See the full Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists brief

How the national numbers differ

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists has the edge on annual openings

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists is at 73,400 annual openings, compared with 6,900 annual openings for Barbers.

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists has the edge on projected growth

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists is at 7.7% projected growth, compared with 3.3% projected growth for Barbers.

Barbers has the edge on median pay

Barbers is at $38,210, compared with $35,790 for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.

41/ 100

Barbers

58/ 100

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence