You must attend a school that meets any licensure requirements as defined by your state. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited or state-approved school.
Related Beauty Careers
Not sure this is the right fit for you? Learn more about other career options in the beauty industry. Related specializations include:
1800 education hours are required to become licensed.
You must renew your license every year.
0 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
The average salary for barbers in Idaho is $39,632 ($19.05/hour). This is higher than the national average of $30,150 ($14.50/hour).
There is a predicted 7% job increase for barbers between 2018-2028 nationally.
Barbers attend to the hair and grooming needs of clients, usually men, performing services such as cutting, styling, and coloring hair, fitting hair pieces, grooming and styling facial hair, and giving shaves. Generally speaking, they perform their craft at local shops, often amidst other barbers, sometimes alone, seeing a succession of clients each day.
If you enjoy spending your day talking with people on a wide range of subjects, and helping people look and feel well groomed and attractive, a career as a barber in Idaho could be a perfect career match for you!
State License Requirements
1800 Education Hours
Required to earn a barbering license
Barbers must be licensed in order to practice, and licenses are administered by the Idaho Board of Cosmetology, which requires 1800 hours of study to be eligible to take the licensing exam. When you have completed your required hours of study, you are eligible to take the licensing exam, which consists of both a theoretical (written) and practical component. When you have passed the exam and paid the requisite fee, you will be issued your license.
Education Details
Barbering skills are frequently taught as a sub-specialty in schools of cosmetology, and there are several in the state of Idaho. In a barbering program you will learn the anatomy and physiology of skin and hair, and diseases affecting each. You will learn techniques of cutting, styling, coloring, and highlighting hair, and how to work with and fit hair pieces. You will also learn about facial hair and how to groom and style it, as well as proper technique for giving a shave. Sterilization of equipment and tools, and sanitation requirements, as well as some of the business aspects of running a barber shop will be taught. You will learn by watching others perform these skills live and on video, and you will practice on other students before being permitted to work on actual clients.
License Renewal
1 Year
License renewal period
0 Hours
Continuing education required
Idaho requires license renewal every year by your birthday. The cost to renew your license is $50 annually. Currently, Idaho does not require cosmetology continuing education hours to renew your license, but you may want to earn CEUs anyway in order to stay on top of your field and keep your skills fresh.
Idaho Barbering Careers
$39,632
Average yearly salary for barbering in Idaho
Barbers across the state earned an average salary of $39,632 in 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of course, many factors affect what you will actually be able to earn as a barber. The more years of experience you have, and the larger and more loyal your client list, the higher the fee you can command. Barbers working in beauty salons and spas may also be paid more than those who work in barber shops. And if you have a specialty such as hair coloring and highlighting, or fitting hair pieces, you may be able to command a premium fee for those services. Nationally, barber jobs are expected to increase 7% between 2018 and 2028 (CareerOneStop, 2020). Of course, if you open your own salon or shop, you will earn more as an owner.
Barbers typically spend their workdays in the company of other people, both clients and coworkers. Most, but not necessarily all, clients are men. To enjoy the profession, it is essential that you enjoy the company of other people and making conversation about a wide range of subjects. It is also extremely helpful to be a good listener, and to be compassionate and non-judgmental. Many people like to talk while being groomed, and a barber gets to hear a lot of stories about people's personal lives. They need to be discreet. On a typical day, a barber will see a number of different clients requesting different grooming services. In between clients, they need to clean and neaten their work stations, making them fresh and attractive for the next client, and complying with state sanitation laws. If you own a barber shop or salon, a good portion of your day will be spent handling some of the business aspects of running the business, such as taking care of finances, interviewing, hiring, and managing staff, ordering supplies, advertising and marketing, and other business-oriented tasks. Barbers can work either part or full time, giving them some scheduling flexibility, although they need to be available when their clients desire their services, so chances are good you will need to work some evening and weekend hours. Still, it is a profession that can work around other commitments you may have. In short, if you enjoy being around other people, especially men, you have an artistic bent and enjoy helping people look and feel their best, a career as a barber in the state of Idaho could very possibly be a great career option for you!
Contact the Idaho State Board of Barbering
Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
Idaho boasts a distinct culture that is very amenable to barbers. State officials also expect that the industry there will skyrocket in the next couple of years. For those interested in barbering in Idaho, it helps to begin the process with these groups.
