Will AI replace barbers?
Updated
Barbers score 23 of 100 for AI exposure. 55% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 15% today and speed up another 30%.
- 15% AI can do it
- 30% AI helps
- 55% Needs a person
Low exposure
Lower than 75% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 18 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 3 of them today, speeds up 5 and leaves 10 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Keep card files on clientele, recording notes of work done, products used and fees charged after each visit. Client notes and service history can be logged digitally by software. | 70% AI can do it |
| Record services provided on cashiers' tickets or receive payment from customers. POS software can record services and process payments automatically. | 65% AI can do it |
| Order supplies. Inventory software can flag and reorder supplies automatically. | 65% AI can do it |
| Perform clerical and administrative duties such as keeping records, paying bills, and hiring and supervising personnel. Bills and records are digital, but hiring and supervising need people. | 50% AI helps |
| Stay informed of the latest styles and hair care techniques. AI can summarize trends, but visual style discovery stays largely manual. | 40% AI helps |
| Recommend and sell lotions, tonics, or other cosmetic supplies. Product suggestions can be drafted by AI, but selling is in person. | 30% AI helps |
| Question patrons regarding desired services and haircut styles. Intake forms can be automated but the consultation is live conversation. | 25% AI helps |
| Suggest treatments to alleviate hair problems. Treatment advice needs in person hair and scalp assessment. | 25% AI helps |
| Clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments. Physical cleaning and sterilizing of tools needs hands on work. | 10% Needs a person |
| Cut and trim hair according to clients' instructions or current hairstyles, using clippers, combs, hand-held blow driers, and scissors. Cutting hair with clippers and scissors is hands on skill. | 5% Needs a person |
Show the other 8 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Provide skin care and nail treatments. Skin care and nail treatments are hands on physical services. | 5% Needs a person |
| Curl, color, or straighten hair, using special chemical solutions and equipment. Chemical colouring and perming requires skilled hands on application. | 5% Needs a person |
| Drape and pin protective cloths around customers' shoulders. Draping and pinning cloths on a client is physical work. | 4% Needs a person |
| Clean work stations and sweep floors. Cleaning stations and sweeping floors is physical work. | 3% Needs a person |
| Apply lather and shave beards or neck and temple hair contours, using razors. Shaving with a razor on a client is physical work. | 3% Needs a person |
| Shape and trim beards and moustaches, using scissors. Trimming beards and moustaches with scissors is hands on work. | 3% Needs a person |
| Shampoo hair. Shampooing hair is a physical task done on the client. | 3% Needs a person |
| Provide face, neck, and scalp massages. Face, neck and scalp massage is a physical in person service. | 2% Needs a person |
How barbers compare
All occupations (923)
Personal care and service (31)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $38,210 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 15,000 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +3.3% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Build client style plans in customer information databases
- Cut and fade hair manually with clippers and shears
- Give straight razor shaves with lather and hot towels
- Film and post cut tutorials on YouTube and Facebook
- Hold a state barber license to cut hair legally
- Sell grooming products face to face with clients
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about barbers and AI
Will barbers be replaced by AI?
Partly. About 2 in 10 of a barber's working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly keeping client card notes and recording services and payments on tickets. Cutting, shaving and trimming stay with barbers because they need hands on a client in the chair.
Will AI take over barbering?
AI can already do 15% of the task time for barbers and speeds up another 30%. People still do 55% of it. The US has 15,000 barber jobs, with a projected change of +3.3% from 2024 to 2034.
Which tasks is AI taking over for barbers?
Client card notes score 70 on exposure, since software can log notes, products used and fees digitally after each visit. POS software records services and takes payment automatically, scoring 65, and inventory software reorders supplies, also scoring 65.
Which barber tasks stay human?
Shaving with a razor, trimming beards with scissors and shampooing each score 3 on exposure, the lowest in the job. They are physical work done on the client's face, neck and scalp, so a person has to do them in the chair.
How can barbers stay valuable as AI spreads?
Use appointment scheduling software and customer information databases to rebook clients and keep the chair full. Show cuts and styles on YouTube and Facebook, since style discovery stays largely manual. Hold a state barber license and sell products in person, where selling still needs a person.
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