Barber Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Barbers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $37,680 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,470 take-home, or $2,622 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median barber salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,342
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,336
- Medicare (1.45%)$546
- California income tax$497
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$490
- Take-home pay$31,470
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Barber pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,960 | $17.77 | $30,929 | $2,577 |
| 25th percentile | $37,250 | $17.91 | $31,147 | $2,596 |
| Median (50th) | $37,680 | $18.12 | $31,470 | $2,622 |
| 75th percentile | $44,710 | $21.50 | $36,746 | $3,062 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,070 | $42.82 | $66,279 | $5,523 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,680 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median barber's $31,470 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,710 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Barber jobs are less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for barbers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 3 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $33,000 | $28,696 | $27,835 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $37,680 | $31,470 | $27,710 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $30,690 | $26,839 | $27,212 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 3 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a barber make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median barber salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $37,680 a year, or about $18.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,250 and $44,710.
What is a barber’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $37,680 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $31,470 a year ($2,622 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $986 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a barber?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $38,210. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,710 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a barber afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 86% of a median barber’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance — $140,870
- Costume Attendant — $106,810
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $57,630
- First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers — $56,280
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services — $51,870
- Animal Trainer — $51,230
- Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers — $50,490
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants — $47,650
- Residential Advisor — $45,240
- Concierge — $43,560
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $43,500
- Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other — $43,160