Barber vs Pharmacist

Side-by-side license comparison

Live DataLast updated: April 15, 2026·Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Pharmacist

Easier to Obtain

Barber

Lower Fee

Barber

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Barber	Pharmacist
Category	Personal Care	Healthcare
Median Salary	$38,050	$136,030
Avg Initial Fee	$98	$402
Difficulty	Low	Very High
Education	1000-1500 hours training	PharmD (6 years)
Exam	State Board (Written + Practical)	NAPLEX + MPJE
Time to License	6-15 months	6-8 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	6 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

Barber

Median Salary$38,050

Avg Salary$38,050

Avg License Fee$98

Pharmacist

Median Salary$136,030

Avg Salary$136,030

Avg License Fee$402

Pharmacist earns $97,980 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $979,800 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

BarberView all 53 state requirements PharmacistView all 53 state requirements

📊

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 Pharmacist?

Pharmacist has a higher median salary at $136,030 per year, compared to $38,050 for Barber — a difference of $97,980 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Barber or a Pharmacist?

Barber licensing is rated Low difficulty, while Pharmacist is rated Very High. Barber requires 1000-1500 hours training and typically takes 6-15 months, compared to PharmD (6 years) and 6-8 years for Pharmacist.

Which license costs more: Barber or Pharmacist?

Pharmacist has a higher average initial fee of $402, while Barber averages $98 — a difference of $304.

Do all states require a license for Barber and Pharmacist?

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

Which career is faster to enter: Barber or Pharmacist?

Barber typically takes 6-15 months from start to licensure, while Pharmacist takes 6-8 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Barber	Pharmacist
Category	Personal Care	Healthcare
Median Salary	$38,050	$136,030
Avg Initial Fee	$98	$402
Difficulty	Low	Very High
Education	1000-1500 hours training	PharmD (6 years)
Exam	State Board (Written + Practical)	NAPLEX + MPJE
Time to License	6-15 months	6-8 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	6 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Barber or Pharmacist?

Pharmacist has a higher median salary at $136,030 per year, compared to $38,050 for Barber — a difference of $97,980 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Barber or a Pharmacist?

Which license costs more: Barber or Pharmacist?

Pharmacist has a higher average initial fee of $402, while Barber averages $98 — a difference of $304.

Do all states require a license for Barber and Pharmacist?

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

Which career is faster to enter: Barber or Pharmacist?

Barber typically takes 6-15 months from start to licensure, while Pharmacist takes 6-8 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.