Barbering major

Barbering: courses, careers, and where to study

Barbering programs train you to cut and style hair, shave and shape beards and mustaches, fit hairpieces, and prepare for your state board barber licensing exam.

A barbering program teaches the technical craft of the barbershop: cutting and tapering hair with clippers, shears, and razors; blending fades and outlining hairlines; and shaving and shaping facial hair, beards, and mustaches, including the classic straight-razor shave with hot towels and lather. Coursework covers hair and scalp anatomy and physiology, shampooing and basic chemical applications such as color and texture services, facial and scalp massage and basic skin treatments, hairpiece and toupee fitting, and the sanitation and disinfection rules that govern razors, blades, and stations. Students also learn client consultation, equipment maintenance, and the business side of running a chair or a shop. Where Cosmetology covers a broad range of hair, nail, and skin services across salons and spas, barbering concentrates on cutting, men's grooming, and razor shaving in a barbershop setting.

Most students enter through a state-approved barber school and complete a set number of supervised clock hours on mannequins and live clients before sitting for the state board, which usually pairs a written theory exam with a practical demonstration scored on technique and sanitation. Barber licensing is regulated by each state, so required hours, exam format, renewal, and reciprocity between states vary, and some areas distinguish a barber license from a cosmetology license; verify the rules with your state board before enrolling. Many barbers work in barbershops or salons, rent a chair, or build their own clientele over time. A program is preparation for the exam and the chair, not a guarantee of work, since pay, hours, and demand depend on location, employer, specialty, and the book of clients you develop.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of barbers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $38,960 and projects employment to grow about 4.1% from 2024 to 2034; a postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Barbering maps to CIP 12.0402, Barbering/Barber, within the CULINARY, ENTERTAINMENT, AND PERSONAL SERVICES family. The official definition:

A program that prepares individuals to shave and trim facial/neck hair and beards, cut and dress hair, fit hairpieces, give facial and scalp massages, apply cosmetic treatments, and to prepare for licensure as professional barbers at various levels. Includes instruction in facial shaving; beard and mustache shaping and trimming; shampooing; hair cutting; hair styles and styling art; facial treatments and massage; chemical applications; hair and scalp anatomy and physiology; hairpiece and toupee fitting; equipment operation; health and safety; customer service; and shop business practices.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What you'll study

  • Clipper cutting, tapering, and fading techniques for a range of hair types
  • Scissor-over-comb and shear cutting, layering, and hairline outlining
  • Straight-razor shaving with hot towels, lather, and proper blade handling
  • Beard and mustache shaping, trimming, and detailing
  • Hair and scalp anatomy, physiology, and analysis of hair and skin conditions
  • Shampooing, conditioning, and basic chemical services such as color and texture
  • Facial and scalp massage and basic skin and grooming treatments
  • Hairpiece and toupee fitting, cleaning, and maintenance
  • Sanitation, disinfection, tool care, client consultation, and shop business practices

Typical careers

Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 barbers median $38,960).Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Barbering. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Barbering major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Barbering program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Barbering department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Barber licensing is set by each state's board of barbering or cosmetology, and required clock hours, exams, renewal, and reciprocity differ by state; some states issue a separate barber license distinct from a cosmetology license, and many barber schools are accredited by NACCAS. Confirm a program's approval status and the current licensing rules where you plan to work with your state board before enrolling.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Barberingcareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Barbering program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Barbering programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

Search Barbering schools

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Related majors

Put this major in context

The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Barbering degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.

Explore Personal Care & Service careers

Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.

How one major leads to many careers

Why a single Barbering degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.

Why a median wage is not a starting salary

How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.

When accreditation and licensure matter

How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Barbering path before you enroll.

Does a pricier college pay off?

How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.

How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.