Barbers · California

Barbers Salary in California

Barbers in California earn a median annual wage of $38,380 —0.4% above the national median of $38,210. That ranks CA #18 of 36 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$38,380
Median hourly
$18.45
Entry level (P10)
$35,900
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$69,530
90th percentile
Employment
1,390
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+0.4%
U.S. $38,210

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$35,900
$37,040
$38,380
$44,790
$35,900$38,380$69,530
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $38,380.

Employment is only 0.79× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Highest-paying states for barbers

All 36 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Oregon$77,430$37.22——
2Illinois$65,430$31.46——
3Colorado$61,500$29.574801.73
4Washington$61,150$29.401,2203.57
5Iowa$58,900$28.321300.87
6New Jersey$54,850$26.37——
7Minnesota$53,990$25.962600.90
8Florida$49,410$23.761,2401.30
9North Dakota$48,540$23.34801.91
10Missouri$47,880$23.025802.05

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Childcare Workers$40,020$34,980
Amusement and Recreation Attendants$37,000$32,150
Recreation Workers$39,780$36,560
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$57,990$47,160
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$38,660$35,790
Animal Caretakers$38,700$35,360

Frequently asked questions

How much do barbers make in California?

The median annual wage for barbers in California is $38,380, or $18.45 per hour. That is 0.4% above the national median of $38,210.

What is the entry-level barbers salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $35,900 per year ($17.26/hour). The 25th percentile is $37,040.

How many people work as barbers in California?

About 1,390 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for barbers?

California ranks #18 of 36 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.79x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Which state pays barbers the most?

Oregon has the highest median wage at $77,430 per year, followed by Illinois ($65,430) and Colorado ($61,500).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes