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Barbering

Types of Degrees Barbering Majors Are Earning

Those studying Barbering have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	10,941
Associate’s Degree	20
Master’s Degree	1,275

What Barbering Majors Need to Know

Studies in Barbering emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Barbering graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Barbering emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 2.6 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Economics and Accounting — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 2.2 / 7.
• Psychology — Importance 3 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills emphasized by a Barbering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Active Listening — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 2.8 / 7.
• Service Orientation — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Social Perceptiveness — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Importance 3 / 5; level 2.1 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Barbering careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Finger Dexterity — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Manual Dexterity — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Barbering graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	4.7 / 7
Thinking Creatively	3.9 / 7
Performing General Physical Activities	3.9 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	3.8 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	3.5 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	3.5 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.4 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.3 / 7
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People	3.2 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	3.2 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Barbering professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Point of sale POS payment software	Point of sale POS software	—
Facebook	Web page creation and editing software	—
Appointment scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
YouTube	Video creation and editing software	—
Linux	Operating system software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Microsoft Windows	Operating system software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Customer information databases	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Barbering graduates include:

• Barber
• Licensed Barber
• Tonsorial Artist
• Stylist
• Hair Cutter
• Barber Shop Operator
• Barber Stylist
• Hairstylist

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Barbering graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Postsecondary certificate	28.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	24.6%
Less than a high school diploma	20.9%
Some college courses	11.7%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	11.1%
Bachelor’s degree	1.7%
Master’s degree	1.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Barbering?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 74.9% of Barbering degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	3,116	25.1%
Men	9,282	74.9%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Barbering graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	1,910	15.4%
Asian	244	2.0%
Hispanic or Latino	5,600	45.2%
Black or African American	3,924	31.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native	83	0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	48	0.4%
Two or More Races	364	2.9%
Race Unknown	197	1.6%
International Students	28	0.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Barbering Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Barbering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$17,533
4 years	$20,210
5 years	$22,425

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $22,425 — roughly 28% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Barbering Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Barbering graduates earn a median of $20,210 four years after completion — about 47% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services	12.04
Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist	12.0409
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other	12.0499
Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor	12.0413
Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General	12.0401
Electrolysis/Electrology and Electrolysis Technician	12.0404
Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist	12.0408
Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design	12.0407
Make-Up Artist/Specialist	12.0406
Master Aesthetician/Esthetician	12.0414
Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist	12.0410
Permanent Cosmetics/Makeup and Tattooing	12.0411

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.