A barber works at a barber’s shop and takes care of people’s haircuts. It’s a traditional profession that’s popular all around the world, and barbers generally enjoy independence – even those working in some large barber’s shops are usually closely acquainted with their superiors. A barber must be able to not only cut hair properly, but also style it, applying various products such as gels and foams, in order to meet clients’ demands. Though less traditional nowadays, barbers may also be tasked with shaving male customers, as some still prefer to get their shaving done by a professional instead of doing it themselves.
Becoming a barber can be done in two general ways – one is to attend a barber school, which would give the person all the required skills and a certificate to prove their knowledge and abilities. A more popular choice is learning the trade from a family member, as it’s very common for parents to pass it down to their children, spanning long-running family lines of barbers. Barbers usually attain a large portion of their skills learning on the job, and interacting with other barbers.
Barbers initially start out with a low compensation, around $20,000 – $30,000, but the prospects for improvement are noticeable – some can earn up to $50,000 annually if they manage to find employment at a successful location. Those running their own barber stores normally see better income as well, and are able to earn well over $50,000 depending on factors such as the number of employees and popularity of the salon.