Prevailing Wage for Barbers
Prevailing wage for Barbers (SOC 39-5011) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected across U.S. metro areas. Whether you work as a Barber Stylist or run a chair as a Barber Shop Operator, DOL assigns four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts significantly depending on which city your worksite is in.
See all jobs for BarbersLook up your work address
Entry-level barbers with limited independent experience, typically recent graduates of a barbering program or early-career licensed practitioners working under direct supervision with a narrow range of standard services.
Qualified barbers with moderate experience performing a full range of services independently. Level 2 is the most common filing level for sponsored barbers, reflecting journeyman-level licensure and routine client management without lead responsibilities.
Experienced barbers who handle complex styling requests, mentor junior staff, or manage workflow in a multi-chair shop. Typically several years of post-licensure experience with demonstrated specialization or client book depth.
Fully competent barbers in senior, lead, or owner-operator roles. This level covers those who set shop standards, train staff, handle advanced grooming techniques, and exercise broad professional judgment with minimal oversight.
Prevailing Wage for Barbers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for Barbers
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Barbers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Barbers
Confirm your license state matches your worksite
Barbering is state-licensed, and the worksite address on the LCA must match the state where your license is valid. Filing under a city where you are not yet licensed can trigger a compliance issue before day one.
Watch the Seattle-to-Salt Lake City wage gap
For this occupation, the L1 prevailing wage in Seattle is more than double the L1 floor in Salt Lake City. Comparing offers across metros without checking the local OES floor can make a below-floor offer look competitive.
Flag tip income before accepting a comp package
DOL prevailing wage must be met through direct wages, not tips or gratuities. A base offer that clears the floor only when booth tips are included does not satisfy the H-1B or PERM wage requirement.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with barber sponsorship history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have previously sponsored workers in personal-care and barbering roles. Because barber sponsorships are uncommon, filtering by historical sponsorship count quickly narrows your list to genuinely visa-active shops and salon chains.
Jobs for Barbers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for BarbersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 39-5011.00 alongside Barbers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Barber Shop Operator Prevailing Wage
Barber Shop Operator Prevailing Wage
Barber Shop Operator positions fall under SOC 39-5011.00 (Barbers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Barber Stylist Prevailing Wage
Barber Stylist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Barber Stylist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-5011.00 (Barbers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Stylist Prevailing Wage
Stylist Prevailing Wage
Stylist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-5011.00 (Barbers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Barbers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through employer surveys. For SOC 39-5011, OFLC converts that survey data into four wage levels based on experience and responsibility. An employer filing an LCA for a sponsored barber must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and experience requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision. Level 2 reflects independent, qualified practice and is the most common filing level for barbers. Level 3 applies to experienced practitioners with specialization or mentorship duties. Level 4 covers senior or lead roles. Match the level to the actual job description, not just the title. If the posting lists lead or training responsibilities, it should be Level 3 or 4, and the offer should reflect that floor.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same barber role vary so much between cities?
OFLC bases each metro's wage on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted in that specific area. High-cost metros with dense salon markets and higher general wages, like Seattle, produce higher survey benchmarks. Lower-wage labor markets, like Little Rock, produce lower floors. The LCA must use the wage for the specific worksite city, not a national average, so two identical offers in different cities may clear the floor in one place and fall short in another.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
OFLC will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for that level and location. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve an H-1B petition. For PERM-based green card cases, DOL will deny the application. The employer must either raise the offered wage to meet the floor or reclassify the position at a level with a lower floor, if the duties genuinely support that level.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Barbers role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 39-5011 by metro area and experience level. Select the city where the worksite is located, not the employer's headquarters, since the LCA wage is tied to the physical work location. You can also check the O*NET profile for SOC 39-5011 to understand the experience descriptors that anchor each level. Migrate Mate can show you which employers have sponsored barber roles before, helping you target outreach toward shops with active visa programs.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Barbers right now.
Search Jobs for Barbers