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Salary comparison

Barbers vs. Amusement and Recreation Attendants: Who Earns More?

Barbers out-earn Amusement and Recreation Attendants by $6K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Barbers land at $38,210 and Amusement and Recreation Attendants at $32,150. The education gap is real: barber programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while amusement and recreation attendant programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Barbers is Oregon ($77,430); for Amusement and Recreation Attendants it's Alaska ($45,680).

Barbers
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Median salary
$38,210
$32,150
Hourly rate
$18.37/hr
$15.46/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$28,600
$22,350
Senior level (90th %)
$76,460
$42,490
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
15,000
397,830
Job growth (10-year)
4.1%
3.4%
Category
Personal Care
Personal Care
Top-paying state
Oregon
Alaska

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Barbers median pay.

State
Barbers
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Oregon
$77,430
$35,400
Illinois
$65,430
$32,770
Colorado
$61,500
$35,770
Washington
$61,150
$37,790
New Jersey
$54,850
$34,500
Minnesota
$53,990
$30,830
Florida
$49,410
$30,670
Virginia
$46,730
$30,910
Connecticut
$41,400
$34,860
New York
$38,580
$36,300
California
$38,380
$37,000
Maryland
$35,400
$36,710
Maine
$35,300
$35,330
Rhode Island
$34,900
$31,220
Arizona
$34,380
$33,570

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Barbers or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Barbers earn more nationally. The median is $38,210 for Barbers versus $32,150 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants, a difference of $6K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Barbers or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Barbers has the better 10-year outlook at 4.1% projected growth, compared to 3.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Barbers or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Barbers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Amusement and Recreation Attendants requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Barbers get paid the most?

Oregon is the top-paying state for Barbers at $77,430/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Barbers vs. Amusement and Recreation Attendants pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Oregon, Barbers earn $77,430 vs. $35,400 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Barbers salary breakdownView →Full Amusement and Recreation Attendants salary breakdownView →Best cities for Barbers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Amusement and Recreation Attendants by take-home payExplore →How to become a barbersGuide →How to become a amusement and recreation attendantsGuide →