The working guide · Sydney
Working as a barber in Sydney
What Sydney shops are paying, where the chairs are, and what they want from the person filling them. Every number on this page comes from the live board: 18 open roles, checked 24 August 2026.
Where the work is
Sydney's open chairs cluster in Balgowlah, Smeaton Grange, Crows Nest and beyond. Each area links to its own live listing page.
What shops pay in Sydney
- $70,000 to $108,000 a year9 open roles
- $30 to $42 an hour2 open roles
- $250 to $400 a day1 open role
Another 6 listings don't state pay, which usually means it's negotiated on experience.
Australian barbering pays three ways. Hourly or salaried roles give you a guaranteed base, common in busier walk-in shops. Commission deals pay a percentage of what you cut, so a full book beats a quiet one. Rent-a-chair flips it: you pay the shop a fixed rent, keep everything you take, and run your own book. Plenty of shops blend a base with commission on top, and the listing states which model applies.
What shops ask for
- Beard design & sculpting15 roles
- Fades (skin, low, mid, high)13 roles
- Scissor cutting11 roles
- Hot towel shaves9 roles
- Clipper work (all guards)7 roles
- Classic cuts & pompadours6 roles
- Blow-dry & styling6 roles
- Line-ups & edge-ups4 roles
12 of the 18 open roles ask for under two years of experience. Most shops look for a Cert III in Barbering (SHB30516) or the hands-on equivalent, and many will trial first regardless.
How the roles are shaped
- Full-time13 roles
- Rostered / part-time4 roles
- Rent a chair1 role
Hiring right now: ANTICA BARBERIA PTY LTD (Crows Nest), Culture cutz (Balgowlah), HMB Barbers, Meditech Staffing (Smeaton Grange), ACE of FADEZ BARBER SHOP (Crows Nest), The Barberhood, mf & gc holdings pty ltd (Campsie), Nature Of A Habit.
Moving to Sydney to cut hair
4 of the open Sydney roles currently advertise visa sponsorship, and shops here hire relocating barbers year round. BarberRise exists so you can line up the chair before the flight: build a profile, talk to the shop, and land with work waiting. Justin, who built the platform, made exactly that move.
Frequently asked questions
- How many barber jobs are open in Sydney right now?
- 18 open roles across Sydney as of 24 August 2026. The count moves daily as shops post and fill chairs; the live board always has the current set.
- What do barbers earn in Sydney?
- Going by what Sydney shops are advertising right now: 9 roles pay $70,000 to $108,000 a year; 2 roles pay $30 to $42 an hour; 1 role pays $250 to $400 a day. Another 6 roles don't state pay up front, which usually means it's negotiated on experience.
- Can I get sponsored to barber in Sydney?
- 4 of the 18 open Sydney roles currently offer visa sponsorship. Shops that sponsor say so in the listing, so filter for sponsorship on the board to see them.
- Do I need experience to get hired in Sydney?
- 12 of the 18 open roles ask for under two years behind the chair, so Sydney has genuine room for early-career barbers. The rest want more mileage, and many shops will trial you regardless of what the ad says.
See the 18 open Sydney roles
Live listings, verified shops, apply free. Or build a profile and let shops come to you.