Hairdressers and barbers salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£15,064
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 51% of Hairdressers work full-time
- 69% are self-employed
- 95.2% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Hairdressers and barbers pay in the UK
The typical hairdressers and barbers in the UK earns a median salary of £15,064 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of hairdressers and barbers earnings fall between £10,378 and £23,383 a year. That is a wide range, a sign that pay climbs steeply with experience, specialism and employer, so the median is a starting point rather than a ceiling.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £16,792. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical hairdressers and barbers actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 69% of Hairdressers are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves; only 51% work full-time, so part-time and flexible roles are common in this field.
Where you work changes the picture: hairdressers and barbers pay ranges from £8,343 in South West up to £18,505 in Scotland, a difference of £10,162 (122%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see hairdressers and barbers pay in Scotland or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
Scotland is the highest-paying region for hairdressers and barbers at £18,505 — 23% above the UK median. South West is lowest at £8,343.
UK median £15,064
| Region | Median payUK median £15,064 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £18,505 | £18,505 | £19,448 | +23% |
| Wales | £17,770 | £17,770 | £16,338 | +18% |
| West Midlands | £14,580 | £14,580 | £15,120 | -3% |
| London | £13,108 | £13,108 | £13,808 | -13% |
| East of England | £11,085 | £11,085 | £11,105 | -26% |
| East Midlands | £10,942 | £10,942 | £11,354 | -27% |
| North East | £10,927 | £10,927 | £10,995 | -27% |
| South East | £10,267 | £10,267 | £13,538 | -32% |
| North West | £10,103 | £10,103 | £11,347 | -33% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £9,589 | £9,589 | £10,649 | -36% |
| South West | £8,343 | £8,343 | £9,837 | -45% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland £18,505 | £18,505Mean £19,448 | +23% |
| Wales £17,770 | £17,770Mean £16,338 | +18% |
| West Midlands £14,580 | £14,580Mean £15,120 | -3% |
| London £13,108 | £13,108Mean £13,808 | -13% |
| East of England £11,085 | £11,085Mean £11,105 | -26% |
| East Midlands £10,942 | £10,942Mean £11,354 | -27% |
| North East £10,927 | £10,927Mean £10,995 | -27% |
| South East £10,267 | £10,267Mean £13,538 | -32% |
| North West £10,103 | £10,103Mean £11,347 | -33% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £9,589 | £9,589Mean £10,649 | -36% |
| South West £8,343 | £8,343Mean £9,837 | -45% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£15,064); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local hairdressers and barbers pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow hairdressers and barbers pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for hairdressers and barbers by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table