Barber vs Massage Therapist

Side-by-side license comparison

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

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Massage Therapist

Easier to Obtain

Barber

Lower Fee

Barber

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Barber	Massage Therapist
Category	Personal Care	Personal Care
Median Salary	$38,050	$53,530
Avg Initial Fee	$98	$145
Difficulty	Low	Low-Medium
Education	1000-1500 hours training	500-1000 hours training
Exam	State Board (Written + Practical)	MBLEx
Time to License	6-15 months	6-12 months
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	6 hrs	24 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	42 of 53

Salary Comparison

Barber

Median Salary$38,050

Avg Salary$38,050

Avg License Fee$98

Massage Therapist

Median Salary$53,530

Avg Salary$53,530

Avg License Fee$145

Massage Therapist earns $15,480 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $154,800 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

BarberView all 53 state requirements Massage TherapistView 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 Massage Therapist?

Massage Therapist has a higher median salary at $53,530 per year, compared to $38,050 for Barber — a difference of $15,480 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Barber or a Massage Therapist?

Barber licensing is rated Low difficulty, while Massage Therapist is rated Low-Medium. Barber requires 1000-1500 hours training and typically takes 6-15 months, compared to 500-1000 hours training and 6-12 months for Massage Therapist.

Which license costs more: Barber or Massage Therapist?

Massage Therapist has a higher average initial fee of $145, while Barber averages $98 — a difference of $47.

Do all states require a license for Barber and Massage Therapist?

Barber requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Massage Therapist requires it in 42 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Barber or Massage Therapist?

Barber typically takes 6-15 months from start to licensure, while Massage Therapist takes 6-12 months. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Barber	Massage Therapist
Category	Personal Care	Personal Care
Median Salary	$38,050	$53,530
Avg Initial Fee	$98	$145
Difficulty	Low	Low-Medium
Education	1000-1500 hours training	500-1000 hours training
Exam	State Board (Written + Practical)	MBLEx
Time to License	6-15 months	6-12 months
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	6 hrs	24 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	42 of 53

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Barber or Massage Therapist?

Massage Therapist has a higher median salary at $53,530 per year, compared to $38,050 for Barber — a difference of $15,480 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Barber or a Massage Therapist?

Which license costs more: Barber or Massage Therapist?

Massage Therapist has a higher average initial fee of $145, while Barber averages $98 — a difference of $47.

Do all states require a license for Barber and Massage Therapist?

Barber requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Massage Therapist requires it in 42 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Barber or Massage Therapist?

Barber typically takes 6-15 months from start to licensure, while Massage Therapist takes 6-12 months. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.