AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 39-5011.00
Will AI replace Barbers?
Barbers: AI can already handle 1 of 18 tasks; the work mostly needs a standard-tier model.
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Every task, scored
The 18 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Barbers, from most to least exposed. 1 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.
| Task | AI exposure | Evidence | Model tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommend and sell lotions, tonics, or other cosmetic supplies. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Question patrons regarding desired services and haircut styles. | Observed | Efficient | |
| Clean and sterilize scissors, combs, clippers, and other instruments. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Cut and trim hair according to clients' instructions or current hairstyles, using clippers, combs, hand-held blow driers, and scissors. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Drape and pin protective cloths around customers' shoulders. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Apply lather and shave beards or neck and temple hair contours, using razors. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Record services provided on cashiers' tickets or receive payment from customers. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Shape and trim beards and moustaches, using scissors. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Perform clerical and administrative duties such as keeping records, paying bills, and hiring and supervising personnel. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Stay informed of the latest styles and hair care techniques. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Suggest treatments to alleviate hair problems. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Order supplies. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Provide skin care and nail treatments. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Shampoo hair. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Keep card files on clientele, recording notes of work done, products used and fees charged after each visit. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Curl, color, or straighten hair, using special chemical solutions and equipment. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Provide face, neck, and scalp massages. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Clean work stations and sweep floors. | Estimated | No tier |
Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 1 of 18 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 17 of 18. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.
The model tier this role needs
A standard-tier model or lower covers 89% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 93% of the work is something AI can address at some tier, and 7% is hands-on.
Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.
Wages, employment and outlook
- US employment
- 15,000
- Median annual wage
- $38,210
- Middle half of earners
- $31,570 to $58,960
- Projected change, 2024 to 2034
- +4.1%
Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034.
Adjacent roles
The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists 75% skill overlap, about 9 months to move Exposure32
- Shampooers 63% skill overlap, about 13 months to move Exposure57
- Baristas 59% skill overlap, about 15 months to move Exposure18
- Bartenders 58% skill overlap, about 15 months to move Exposure28
- Manicurists and Pedicurists 58% skill overlap, about 15 months to move Exposure62
Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.
Questions about Barbers and AI
Will AI replace Barbers?
AI already handles 1 of the 18 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 31 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by +4.1% from 2024 to 2034.
What is the AI exposure of Barbers?
31 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 1 of the 18 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 17 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.
Which Barbers tasks can AI already do?
The tasks with the highest exposure are: Recommend and sell lotions, tonics, or other cosmetic supplies. It is the only task that reach 60 or more.
What AI model tier does this role need?
A standard-tier model or lower covers 89% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.
How many people work as Barbers, and what do they earn?
15,000 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $38,210 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +4.1% from 2024 to 2034.
How to cite
Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.
JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Barbers. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/barbers
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