Facts

• A 2009 wages survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported average barber salaries across the nation at $27,650 per year. This is higher than the median wage earned by barbers in Tennessee, which averaged $23,620 per year.
  
  

Ranges

• Ranges for barber salaries varied widely across the state of Tennessee. While the state's median fell below the national average, barbers in the 90th percentile earned $48,810 per year. The bottom 10th percentile earned $15,850 per year.
  
  

Considerations

• Knowing how to style hair or being able to wield a razor is helpful in the field of barbering, but professionals are strictly regulated by their states. Tennessee's Department of Commerce and Insurance Board of Barber Examiners requires its barbers to complete a training program at one of its licensing schools, including the Georgia Career Institute, the Salon Professional Academy, Shear Majik School of Beauty, Tennessee Career Institute, Empire Beauty School, West Tennessee Business College and Vatterott Career College.
  
  

Outlook

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 12 percent growth of employment in the field of barbering, resulting in the addition of 6,200 jobs by 2018. The BLS suggests the increased demand for barbing services will come from baby boomers and young people experimenting with more intricate hairstyles and colors.