Barber vs Plumber

Side-by-side license comparison

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

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Plumber

Easier to Obtain

Barber

Lower Fee

Barber

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Barber	Plumber
Category	Personal Care	Trades
Median Salary	$38,050	$63,530
Avg Initial Fee	$98	$151
Difficulty	Low	Medium-High
Education	1000-1500 hours training	4-5 year apprenticeship
Exam	State Board (Written + Practical)	Journeyman Plumber Exam
Time to License	6-15 months	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 3 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	6 hrs	16 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	37 of 53

Salary Comparison

Barber

Median Salary$38,050

Avg Salary$38,050

Avg License Fee$98

Plumber

Median Salary$63,530

Avg Salary$63,530

Avg License Fee$151

Plumber earns $25,480 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $254,800 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

BarberView all 53 state requirements PlumberView 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 Plumber?

Plumber has a higher median salary at $63,530 per year, compared to $38,050 for Barber — a difference of $25,480 annually.

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

Barber licensing is rated Low difficulty, while Plumber is rated Medium-High. Barber requires 1000-1500 hours training and typically takes 6-15 months, compared to 4-5 year apprenticeship and 4-5 years for Plumber.

Which license costs more: Barber or Plumber?

Plumber has a higher average initial fee of $151, while Barber averages $98 — a difference of $53.

Do all states require a license for Barber and Plumber?

Barber requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Plumber requires it in 37 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Barber or Plumber?

Barber typically takes 6-15 months from start to licensure, while Plumber takes 4-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Explore the DataPeek Network

LawyerCostPeek DivorceLawPeek EvictionLawPeek CarInsurancePeek DMVPeek FloodRiskPeek VocabWize VocabLibre DicionarioWize WortWize KalimaWize KotobaPeek NameBlooms WagePeek NetPayPeek SalaryByCity

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Barber	Plumber
Category	Personal Care	Trades
Median Salary	$38,050	$63,530
Avg Initial Fee	$98	$151
Difficulty	Low	Medium-High
Education	1000-1500 hours training	4-5 year apprenticeship
Exam	State Board (Written + Practical)	Journeyman Plumber Exam
Time to License	6-15 months	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 3 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	6 hrs	16 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	37 of 53

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Barber or Plumber?

Plumber has a higher median salary at $63,530 per year, compared to $38,050 for Barber — a difference of $25,480 annually.

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

Which license costs more: Barber or Plumber?

Plumber has a higher average initial fee of $151, while Barber averages $98 — a difference of $53.

Do all states require a license for Barber and Plumber?

Barber requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Plumber requires it in 37 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Barber or Plumber?

Barber typically takes 6-15 months from start to licensure, while Plumber takes 4-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.