How to hire barbers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Apply lather and shave beards or neck and temple hair contours, using razors. • Clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments. • Clean work stations and sweep floors. • Cut and trim hair according to clients' instructions or current hairstyles, using clippers, combs, hand-held blow driers, and scissors. • Drape and pin protective cloths around customers' shoulders. • Question patrons regarding desired services and haircut styles. • Record services provided on cashiers' tickets or receive payment from customers. • Shape and trim beards and moustaches, using scissors. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Postsecondary nondegree award] • Strong active listening and speaking skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $18.37 an hour ($38,210 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for barbers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to apply lather and shave beards or neck and temple hair contours, using razors. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to clean work stations and sweep floors. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to cut and trim hair according to clients' instructions or current hairstyles, using clippers, combs, hand-held blow driers, and scissors. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What barbers do
- Apply lather and shave beards or neck and temple hair contours, using razors.
- Clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments.
- Clean work stations and sweep floors.
- Cut and trim hair according to clients' instructions or current hairstyles, using clippers, combs, hand-held blow driers, and scissors.
- Drape and pin protective cloths around customers' shoulders.
- Question patrons regarding desired services and haircut styles.
- Record services provided on cashiers' tickets or receive payment from customers.
- Shape and trim beards and moustaches, using scissors.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for barbers
- Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +3.3% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 6,900 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay barbers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Washington | $61,150 |
| Florida | $49,410 |
| Missouri | $47,880 |
| California | $38,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,920 |
See barbers pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
- Skincare Specialists
- Shampooers
- Manicurists and Pedicurists
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
- Sewers, Hand
- Personal Service Managers, All Other
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance
- First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.