Hairdressers and barbers roles in the UK earn a median of £23,500 per year, equivalent to £12.53 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 10.8% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £20,500 in Wales to £28,500 in South West. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £24,279/yr (3% below our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£23,500
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£12.53
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+10.8%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£18,500 – £26,500
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Hairdressers and barbers across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| South West | £28,500 |
| South East | £25,500 |
| North East | £24,500 |
| East | £24,500 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £24,000 |
| London | £23,500 |
| East Midlands | £23,000 |
| West Midlands | £22,000 |
| North West | £21,500 |
| Scotland | £21,000 |
| Wales | £20,500 |
| UK | £23,500 |
Annual pay grew by +10.8% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Hairdressers and barbers.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Hairdressers and barbers in the UK is £23,500 per year (about £12.53 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Hairdressers and barbers earn between £18,500 and £26,500 a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Hairdressers and barbers pay rose by 10.8% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Hairdressers and barbers is in South West, at £28,500 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Hairdressers and barbers roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
Hairdressers and barbers shampoo, cut, colour, style and treat hair.
There are no minimum academic requirements for entry, although some colleges require candidates to possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is provided Off and on-the-job and lasts up to three years leading to the awarding of NVQs/SVQs at levels 1, 2 and 3. Apprenticeships leading to an NVQ/SVQ at level 3 are also available.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.