25 Best States For Barbers

Snip, snip, snip, time to get straightened up with the 25 best states for barbers. My barber’s name is Josh and he is the best barber ever. I’m sorry if your barber is not Josh because you do not go to the world’s best barber. He is writing his Ph.D. on barbershops! C’mon. Well, on black barbershop cultural and its societal or other impacts. Still, he is a very knowledgeable and skilled barber–who is the best.

I’ve been to other barbers and barbershops. I’ve been to the one in front of the “hidden” bar–it’s down the street from me.  They give you a cocktail with your cut. I have been to the neon-signed, barberpoled, three chair operation that smelled of the fragrances worn by the three Israeli brothers who worked there.  I’ve even been to Robert’s Barbershop in Danbury, CT where my hair was cut by Robert himself before a wedding at which I was a random guest.  For the record, Robert did not utter a single word during the haircut and I couldn’t have been happier with the result. Also, he definitely thought I was a dude–not super uncommon for me.

Barbershops are a secure investment in these times of economic crisis because people, no matter how much money they have, need to cut their hair; it is just like any other essential things like eating, drinking, etc. Well, maybe slightly less essential but you get the idea. So opening barber shops could be a boon.

So what are the 25 best states for barbers? We have to discover which are the best states by considering working conditions for barbers. According to United States Department of Labour, there are 14,350 barbers in the US. Hourly wage is about $14 and during the one year, an average barber in the US earns $29,140.

Using United States Department of Labour site we examined data on barber earnings for each state in the country and we compared these numbers with the cost of living index of each state. Having a high wage in the certain state doesn’t mean anything if you have very high living costs. Every barber wants to live in a state which will provide them the good living conditions, which means enough money to spend on traveling, paying bills, buying things like gas, groceries, and movie tickets, etc. You can also see which state offers the best life for audiologists through our list of 25 Best States for Audiologists.

We won’t provide details about the costs for the things we mentioned above because it is up to every individual how will they spend their money–some will want to purchase luxuries items or use more amenities. Others will save and pay down debt and could afford to live in surprisingly expensive regions. These parameters are already included in Metric’s Living Costs Index, which we used to discover the best states for barbers in the US. This index takes into account the costs of food, household expenses, utilities, transport and healthcare costs. The index values range from 85 (the lowest cost of living) to 154 (the highest cost of living).

Let’s see the list of 25 best states for barbers:

25. South Carolina

Hourly wage: $12.35

Cost of Living Index: 99.2

Starting with South Carolina. It may be the last place on this list but there are 25 who didn’t even make it. Don’t feel bad, SC! Barbers here can earn $12.35 per hour. The living cost is 99.2.

24. Maryland

Hourly wage: $16.10

Cost of Living Index: 125.5

It’s good to be a barber in Maryland, next on our list of best states for barbers at least according to the hourly wage of $16.10. But, the trick is that you would pay higher bills, have higher health care costs and many another costs which have already included in Meric living cost index. That index for Maryland is 125.5. Sorry crab lovers, that is high for the salary, so this state is not quite good enough for barbers.

23. West Virginia

Hourly wage: $12.23

Cost of Living Index: 93.4

Country roads take you home, to cut some bangs and take a little off the top.  Your barber in this state is paid $12.23 per hour. The living cost is 93.4 which means that these snippers can have a decent life in West Virginia–even if the wages is actually lower than the previous two states.

22. Florida

Hourly wage: $12,89

Cost of Living Index: 98.3

Senior citizens and wackadoos aren’t gonna cut their own hair. Many of them shouldn’t even have access to scissors. So, barbers in Florida seems to have a lot of work to do. Also, they have a proper hourly wage which is $12.89 and the living cost index which is 98.3.

21. Michigan 

Hourly wage: $11.83

Cost of Living Index: 89

People in Michigan, that ranked 21st on our list of best states for barbers who work as barbers, earn $11.83 per one hour, which is not good enough, but in Michigan, the living costs are acceptable for this amount. Pure Michigan, you need to pay your barbers better!

20. Louisiana

Hourly wage: $12.63

Cost of Living Index: 94.8

Compared to Michigan situation, we could say that Louisiana, because of a slightly higher hourly wage and almost the same living cost index, is a better place for barbers at least when we are talking about money—or access to Mardi Gras. Barber in this state earns $12.63 during an hour. The cost of living index is 94.8. In Louisiana is registered, 90 barbers.

19. Iowa

Hourly wage: $12.16

Cost of Living Index: 91

Nothing new about living and working conditions for barbers in Iowa. The hourly wage is $12.16 and the cost of living  index is 91. As we see, the living costs are quite low in this state and barbers’ mean hourly wage is high enough to cover living costs. But, we also must add that all barbers are not the same. Some of them work more in order to be paid more because the wage of $12 is not enough. But on the other hand, there are barbers who are satisfied with this salary. Perhaps they inherited a great Iowan corn farm and want to cut hair on the side?

18. Pennsylvania

Hourly wage: $13.81

Cost of Living Index:101.4

Pennsylvania is the third state in the US, according to the number of barbers per one state. In this state there are 1,300 barbers. During one working hour, they can earn $13.81. The living cost index is 101.4. The hourly wage is a little bit higher, but the costs of living are also acceptable. Nice state for barbers, for now until hockey season when everyone will want a lucky mullet.

17. Ohio

Hourly wage: $12.80

Cost of Living Index: 93.8

The 17th best state for barbers is Ohio. In this state work 350 barbers. The hourly wage is $1 lower than Pennsylvania. The hourly wage in this state is $12.80 which is very decent if we consider low living cost index which is 93.8. So, Ohio and decency are no strangers, except if you’re a lake-effect snow storm. Then they’ll fight you hard.

16. Tennessee

Hourly wage: $12.56

Cost of Living Index: 89.4

Compared to previous positions on the list we can conclude that Tennessee is a better state that provides good working and living conditions for barbers. These are the main reasons for that. This state found the right balance between hourly wage which is $12.56 and living cost index which is 89.4. Plus there’s a great song about it by Arrested Development.

15. Virginia

Hourly wage: $14.20

Cost of Living Index: 100.8

As we moving to the top of the list we notice that earnings in each state are increasing. For now, Virginia is the 15th best state for barbers. In Virginia, hourly wage is $14.20, which will buy less for you the closer you move to d.c. The living cost index is 100.8.

14. Indiana

Hourly wage: $12.67

Cost of Living Index: 89.5

The 14th place on this list is Indiana. Very good combination of hourly wage and index of living in Indiana where barbers earn $12.64 per hour. The living cost index is 89.5.

13. North Carolina

Hourly wage: $13.30

Cost of Living Index: 93.9

In North Carolina, barbers earn $13.30 per hour as long as they go to the bathroom in the right place. The living cost index in this state is 93.9. In this state there are 180 barbers.

12. Massachusetts

Hourly wage: $13.30

Cost of Living Index: 133.4

We are half way through this list of best states for barbers and in Massachusetts which is number 12 on the list, we have an interesting situation. Not a very significant increase in earnings compare to the other states from the list and very high cost of living index which is 133.4. The hourly wage is $13.30. In general, this is a very expensive state for all. Also, you have to sell your soul to the Red Sox which is prohibitively expensive.

11. District of Columbia

Hourly wage: $23.03

Cost of Living Index: 151.6

The District of Columbia is very dynamic if we take into consideration both indicators, which are high and synchronized. Hourly wage in this state is $23.03. This is the highest wage so far–talk about governmental kickbacks. Unfortunately, District of Columbia is the most expensive state on our list according to Meric living cost index.

10. Washington

Hourly wage: $16.22

Cost of Living Index:105.2

Washington is a well-known state for being not too expensive but offering a very good environment for many occupations. It has a great balance between the living costs and wages. In most cases, in this type of research Washington is in the middle of the list of best states for barbers, and now, it is on number 10. The living cost index is 105.2 and the barber’s hourly wage is $16.22.

9. Missouri

Hourly wage: $14,09

Cost of Living Index: 90.4

Compared to Washington situation, we could say that Missouri is surely a better place for barbers because of salary and lower living costs. The hourly wage is $14.09 and the living cost index is 90.4.

8. Colorado

Hourly wage: $16,35

Cost of Living Index: 103.8

Besides natural beauty and mountains, Colorado has more to be proud of and it is a great barber community. 590 barbers are working in Colorado where they earn $16.35 per hour. A very similar situation to Washington according to our indicators.

7. Georgia

Hourly wage: $14.46

Cost of Living Index: 91.40

Another state with the low living costs and good wages. The rest is up to employers to organize working conditions that are appropriate for normal operation and most of the barbers will be satisfied with their work and they will love a job. The hourly wage for barbers in Georgia is $14.6 and the cost of living index is 91.40.

6. Texas

Hourly wage: $14.52

Cost of Living Index: 90.7

We are slowly moving to the first place of the list of best states for barbers. The number 6 is Texas. Texas is the mostly the first place of these 25 states types of lists, but now it isn’t. Still, Texas ended up in the first place according to a number of barbers per one state. In Texas work 2,410 barbers. Now lest’s see job market and living conditions through our indicators.  The hourly wage is $14.52 and living cost index is 90.7.

5. Kentucky

Hourly wage: $14.57

Cost of Living Index: 90.5

Hourly wage in Kentucky is $14.57 and the cost of living index is 90.5. While it’s not a prospective state for me you could consider it especially if you’re fond of men’s college basketball.

4. Minnesota

Hourly wage: $20.01

Cost of Living Index: 100.8

The fourth best state and, we can agree, the perfect place for barbers is Minnesota. The hourly wage is $20.01 and the cost of living index has a very good value which is 100.8. Unfortunately, Bureau of Labor Statistics didn’t provide information about the number of barbers in this country. But one thing is sure, this state is very good for barbers.

3.  Nebraska

Hourly wage: $23.03

Cost of Living Index: 91.6

We are slowly moving to the first place of this list of best states for barbers and we are asking ourselves is there any state better than Minnesota? Of course, there is Nebraska. This state has been chosen by 100 barbers. They probably had a lot of good reason why they chose this place–maybe it’s the corn husking–but we can bet that is one of them the good hourly wage at a mean of $23.03.

2. Oklahoma

Hourly wage: $23,08

Cost of Living Index: 89.2

The second place on this list of best states for barbers is Oklahoma. According to the number of barbers in this state, which is 80, we can conclude that there is a very undercover market here. Or perhaps many barbers work in secret? In this state, there are only 80 barbers. The hourly wage is $23.08 and the cost of living index is 89.2. If you have the option to move to this state it would be the right decision.

1.Illinois

Hourly wage: $26.90

Cost of Living Index: 94.6

Dear barbers, this is the first place on the list of best states for barbers. Illinois has the best conditions for you! The hourly wage in this state is $26.90 and the living cost index is 94.6. This is the best state for you according to these indicators that we choose and it reflects a good and quality place for you. It is up to you to explore even further and find other requirements which will help you to make a final decision about which state would suit you. Now get cutting.