Six Career Opportunities for Barbers

A licensed barber school teaches you how to cut and style hair, provide mustache trimmings and beard design, learn how to manipulate shears, and train to become a licensed barber. A barbering program, similar to a cosmetology program, prepares aspiring styling professionals to become certified to work in a salon, spa, and barber shop.

If you’re an aspiring future barber looking for more information on what you might do after you complete your barber program, consider these six options.

1. Product development

Developing new products formulated for various hair products or beards, such as grooming sprays or shaving cream, is always in demand. If you want to start your brand and line of products, many facilities will help you develop and manufacture formulas and even help with branding and packaging.

You will learn business operations and work with clients in a barbering program. Many salons and barber shops sell products, and if you intend on operating your own business, this would be an excellent opportunity to sell your customized products to clients. Product development can open many career opportunities, whether you’re working as a freelance barber or renting a chair in a barber shop.

2. Self-employed hair stylist

Personal hair stylists wear many hats, and having a background in hair design will enable you to become a barber or a self-employed hair stylist who comes to clients to offer services. Evergreen Beauty College allows students in our cosmetology school and barbering program to get hands-on training at our student-operated salon.

Students are encouraged to start building clientele, which is a great perk and networking opportunity if they want to work as self-employed stylists. Many barbers start working at a barber shop and moonlighting as self-employed hair stylists until they build a client base that needs stylists to come to them. Some barbers even become hair stylists working on cruise ships or at gigs for special events.

3. Wedding and event services

Traditionally, a bridal stylist helps the bride and bridesmaids prepare for their big day. Wedding day barbering is now coming into popularity. Many professional barbers are hired to pamper and style the groom and groomsmen for the big event. Barbering service can be used for other events where people must look their best. Instead of going to the barber shop, self-employed barbers can work off-site at all events outside of normal barber hours.

With remote barbering services, clients can have a hair designer standing by with services that include hair care, hair cuts, and beard and mustache trimming.

4. Film and TV

In film and TV, beauty professionals are needed to make up the actors. Whether they’re crafting designs for sci-fi or fantasy, makeup and hair can play a significant role in enhancing the scene. As a hairstylist, you can find job opportunities in film and TV by applying for work in the entertainment industry.

5. Barbershop owners

Obtaining a cosmetology license or barber license is essential if it’s your ambition to become a barbershop owner. Shop owners act as barbers, hire additional help, pay for overhead, and occasionally host special events to attract business.

6. Barber instructor

Licensed barber instructors are like platform artists. They have to perform their techniques, introduce new ideas, and teach students classic and new skills. At Evergreen Beauty College, we offer an instructor training program that students can take in addition to the barber program. Graduates will find more job opportunities with education hours in instruction coupled with barbering. You can teach in a classroom setting or give demonstrations at special events.

You may not need a special license to teach in some states, but you do need a license as a barber or cosmetologist. In most states, you need to hold your barbering license for a specific amount of time before you can apply for a barber license renewal to continue teaching.

Key takeaways

You need a few qualifications to be eligible to attend a barbering program. Most licensed barber schools require a high school diploma or GED. Before applying to work in a barber shop, upon graduating from an accredited or licensed barber school, students must register for their licensing or practical exam. Consider the barbering course at Evergreen Beauty College.

About Evergreen Beauty College

Many licensed beauty schools offer barber programs. Students must get their high school diploma and need a certain number of training hours to become certified. If you plan on studying the cosmetology industry, you will need 1,600 hours of instruction to qualify for the licensing exam. Check your state to see when you will need a license renewal. In barbering school, you will typically learn to groom facial hair, provide haircuts, learn hair care fads, and develop other essential barbering skills.

Evergreen Beauty College provides students with job training at our on-campus, student-operated salon. We offer a flexible schedule with online courses so you can achieve your education requirements with minimal stress.

During training hours, our instructors help immerse students into the techniques needed for the cosmetology and barber industries. Beyond techniques and learning to provide customer service, students will learn about business management and how hair salons operate. Your future career can start by touring our campus.

FAQ: What do I learn as a barber, and what careers can I pursue?

What is the career progression for a barber?

After students complete their barber program and pass the board exam, they can have a successful career as a freelance barber or get their barber instructor license to teach.

Once you obtain your license, you’ll need to build experience at a barber shop or work as an assistant or barber at events.

The barbering industry isn’t limited to grooming facial hair, hair coloring, and hair cutting at a barber shop. Beyond barber shops, you can also pursue a career in barbering and create your own products, open a salon or shop, teach, work events, or become a product buyer.

Starting your barbering career at a shop, salon, or as an assistant is usually the first step.

Is barbering a good career choice?

If you enjoy socializing, standing on your feet for long hours at a time, and hair styling, you will find that working at a barber shop is a rewarding career. Most barbers complete school in under a year, and to obtain their barber license, they must pass the barber exam or practical exam. According to Indeed, barbers can make a decent living with an average hourly rate of $28.73, reported in August 2023.

What is the best degree for a barber?

Barbers and hairstylists aren’t required to attend traditional four-year colleges. People with goals of becoming barbers must earn their high school or equivalency diplomas. They can enroll at a cosmetology school or a barber program where they will get hands-on experience working with other students and real clients. Students will develop business skills and get real-world experience in our on-campus student-operated salon.