Barber vs General Contractor

Side-by-side license comparison

Live DataLast updated: April 13, 2026·Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

General Contractor

Easier to Obtain

Barber

Lower Fee

Barber

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Barber	General Contractor
Category	Personal Care	Trades
Median Salary	$38,050	$101,480
Avg Initial Fee	$98	$359
Difficulty	Low	Medium-High
Education	1000-1500 hours training	Experience-based (2-5 years)
Exam	State Board (Written + Practical)	State Contractor Exam
Time to License	6-15 months	3-6 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	6 hrs	14 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	41 of 53

Salary Comparison

Barber

Median Salary$38,050

Avg Salary$38,050

Avg License Fee$98

General Contractor

Median Salary$101,480

Avg Salary$101,480

Avg License Fee$359

General Contractor earns $63,430 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $634,300 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

BarberView all 53 state requirements General ContractorView all 53 state requirements

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LicenseWize Editorial TeamData Specialists

The LicenseWize editorial team aggregates and verifies licenses data from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.

✓ Sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards✓ Quarterly review✓ No paid placements

Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Barber or General Contractor?

General Contractor has a higher median salary at $101,480 per year, compared to $38,050 for Barber — a difference of $63,430 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Barber or a General Contractor?

Barber licensing is rated Low difficulty, while General Contractor is rated Medium-High. Barber requires 1000-1500 hours training and typically takes 6-15 months, compared to Experience-based (2-5 years) and 3-6 years for General Contractor.

Which license costs more: Barber or General Contractor?

General Contractor has a higher average initial fee of $359, while Barber averages $98 — a difference of $261.

Do all states require a license for Barber and General Contractor?

Barber requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while General Contractor requires it in 41 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Barber or General Contractor?

Barber typically takes 6-15 months from start to licensure, while General Contractor takes 3-6 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

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Detailed Comparison

Metric	Barber	General Contractor
Category	Personal Care	Trades
Median Salary	$38,050	$101,480
Avg Initial Fee	$98	$359
Difficulty	Low	Medium-High
Education	1000-1500 hours training	Experience-based (2-5 years)
Exam	State Board (Written + Practical)	State Contractor Exam
Time to License	6-15 months	3-6 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	6 hrs	14 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	41 of 53

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Barber or General Contractor?

General Contractor has a higher median salary at $101,480 per year, compared to $38,050 for Barber — a difference of $63,430 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Barber or a General Contractor?

Which license costs more: Barber or General Contractor?

General Contractor has a higher average initial fee of $359, while Barber averages $98 — a difference of $261.

Do all states require a license for Barber and General Contractor?

Barber requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while General Contractor requires it in 41 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Barber or General Contractor?

Barber typically takes 6-15 months from start to licensure, while General Contractor takes 3-6 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.