Washington Barbershop Insurance: Shop Counts, Barber Wages & City Guides

Washington had 192 barber shops with paid employees in 2023 (Census). BLS counts 1,220 barbers on payrolls. Owner-barbers and chair renters add many more. Here is the state picture, what drives a shop's premium, and city pages.

Washington barbering industry

Indicator	Washington
Barber shops with employees	192
People employed at barber shops	1,291
Barber shops with fewer than 5 employees	46%
Beauty salons	2,168
All hair, nail, and skin care businesses	3,594
Barber and cosmetology schools	39
Men's clothing stores	86
Barbers on payrolls (BLS, May 2025)	1,220
Median annual wage, barbers	$61,150
Hairstylists and cosmetologists on payrolls	6,930
Median annual wage, hairstylists	$59,510

Census CBP 2023 (NAICS 812111, 812112, 81211, 611511, 448110); BLS OEWS May 2025 (39-5011, 39-5012; payroll workers only).

What sets a Washington barbershop premium

Chairs: How many, and how busy.
People: Employee barbers, payroll, and chair renters.
Services: Straight-razor shaves, beard color, hair systems.
Shop: Equipment, build-out, and the sign out front.
Lease: Required limits and landlord wording.
Record: Past claims.

See cost factors and the chair rental agreement guide.

Oversight in Washington

Insurance companies and agents are regulated by the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Barber licenses and shop inspections fall under a separate state licensing body.

Washington barbershop city guides

Ordered from the most renter-heavy city to the least (ACS).

Barbershop coverage and guides

More Washington towns by county

Barbers anywhere in Washington can ask for a quote. Remaining towns grouped by county, each followed by its 2024 population estimate:

Adams County: Hatton 141, Lind 524, Othello 9,001, Ritzville 1,709, Washtucna 199
Asotin County: Asotin 1,192, Clarkston 7,138
Benton County: Benton City 3,876, Prosser 6,540, West Richland 18,820
Chelan County: Cashmere 3,333, Chelan 4,462, Entiat 1,561, Leavenworth 2,908, Wenatchee 35,401
Clallam County: Forks 3,433, Port Angeles 20,112, Sequim 8,199
Clark County: Battle Ground 22,959, Camas 27,313, La Center 4,256, Ridgefield 15,359, Washougal 17,944, Yacolt 1,644
Columbia County: Dayton 2,471, Starbuck 138
Cowlitz County: Castle Rock 2,445, Kalama 3,131, Kelso 12,737, Longview 38,294, Woodland 6,496
Douglas County: Bridgeport 2,261, East Wenatchee 14,330, Mansfield 340, Rock Island 1,722, Waterville 1,148
Ferry County: Republic 1,020
Franklin County: Connell 5,071, Kahlotus 141, Mesa 388
Garfield County: Pomeroy 1,471
Grant County: Coulee City 554, Electric City 957, Ephrata 8,718, George 1,006, Grand Coulee 960, Hartline 177, Krupp 45, Mattawa 3,784, Moses Lake 26,969, Quincy 8,294, Royal City 1,907, Soap Lake 1,780, Warden 2,806, Wilson Creek 204
Grays Harbor County: Aberdeen 17,044, Cosmopolis 1,663, Elma 3,515, Hoquiam 8,771, McCleary 2,059, Montesano 4,194, Oakville 735, Ocean Shores 7,731, Westport 2,341
Island County: Coupeville 1,935, Langley 1,139, Oak Harbor 24,163
Jefferson County: Port Townsend 10,649
King County: Algona 3,269, Beaux Arts Village 313, Black Diamond 6,787, Carnation 2,279, Clyde Hill 3,158, Covington 21,567, Des Moines 33,207, Duvall 9,176, Enumclaw 13,173, Hunts Point 460, Issaquah 39,664, Kenmore 24,166, Lake Forest Park 13,276, Maple Valley 28,553, Medina 2,976, Mercer Island 25,302, Newcastle 13,072, Normandy Park 6,661, North Bend 8,553, Pacific 7,085, SeaTac 34,024, Skykomish 158, Snoqualmie 13,748, Woodinville 13,942, Yarrow Point 1,134
Kitsap County: Bainbridge Island 24,618, Port Orchard 19,122, Poulsbo 12,562
Kittitas County: Cle Elum 2,276, Ellensburg 20,996, Kittitas 1,445, Roslyn 960, South Cle Elum 572
Klickitat County: Bingen 942, Goldendale 3,525, White Salmon 2,605
Lewis County: Centralia 19,061, Chehalis 7,717, Morton 1,089, Mossyrock 803, Napavine 2,155, Pe Ell 671, Toledo 767, Vader 690, Winlock 2,515
Lincoln County: Almira 328, Creston 247, Davenport 1,805, Harrington 461, Odessa 924, Reardan 688, Sprague 525, Wilbur 926
Mason County: Shelton 10,737
Okanogan County: Brewster 2,090, Conconully 198, Coulee Dam 1,242, Elmer City 255, Nespelem 200, Okanogan 2,489, Omak 5,167, Oroville 1,911, Pateros 626, Riverside 340, Tonasket 1,133, Twisp 1,112, Winthrop 603
Pacific County: Ilwaco 1,112, Long Beach 1,761, Raymond 3,228, South Bend 1,801
Pend Oreille County: Cusick 184, Ione 444, Metaline 164, Metaline Falls 281, Newport 2,235
Pierce County: Bonney Lake 22,145, Buckley 5,641, Carbonado 737, DuPont 9,823, Eatonville 2,864, Edgewood 13,496, Fife 11,077, Fircrest 6,988, Gig Harbor 12,643, Milton 8,833, Orting 8,911, Roy 803, Ruston 1,048, South Prairie 367, Steilacoom 6,649, Sumner 10,885, University Place 35,160, Wilkeson 488
San Juan County: Friday Harbor 2,744
Skagit County: Anacortes 18,148, Burlington 10,945, Concrete 795, Hamilton 295, La Conner 994, Lyman 422, Mount Vernon 35,344, Sedro-Woolley 13,215
Skamania County: North Bonneville 1,418, Stevenson 1,598
Snohomish County: Arlington 21,959, Brier 6,603, Darrington 1,500, Gold Bar 2,478, Granite Falls 4,702, Index 160, Lake Stevens 41,350, Mill Creek 20,993, Monroe 19,927, Mountlake Terrace 25,198, Mukilteo 21,299, Snohomish 10,534, Stanwood 8,943, Sultan 7,002, Woodway 1,323
Spokane County: Airway Heights 11,950, Cheney 12,700, Deer Park 5,191, Fairfield 598, Latah 177, Liberty Lake 13,353, Medical Lake 5,003, Millwood 1,841, Rockford 627, Spangle 278, Waverly 123
Stevens County: Chewelah 2,687, Colville 5,009, Kettle Falls 1,649, Marcus 219, Northport 291, Springdale 360
Thurston County: Bucoda 615, Rainier 2,506, Tenino 1,956, Tumwater 27,826, Yelm 11,715
Wahkiakum County: Cathlamet 608
Walla Walla County: College Place 9,846, Prescott 364, Waitsburg 1,173, Walla Walla 33,901
Whatcom County: Blaine 6,371, Everson 3,169, Ferndale 16,706, Lynden 16,783, Nooksack 1,675, Sumas 1,683
Whitman County: Albion 547, Colfax 2,692, Colton 401, Endicott 299, Farmington 134, Garfield 543, LaCrosse 290, Lamont 78, Malden 252, Oakesdale 384, Palouse 1,029, Pullman 33,543, Rosalia 578, St. John 590, Tekoa 809, Uniontown 396
Yakima County: Grandview 11,599, Granger 3,789, Harrah 576, Mabton 1,960, Moxee 4,791, Naches 1,090, Selah 8,653, Sunnyside 16,317, Tieton 1,610, Toppenish 8,658, Union Gap 6,582, Wapato 4,492, Zillah 3,123

Washington barbershop questions

Does a Washington barber license cover liability?

A license allows you to cut hair; it does not pay for injuries or damage. Insurance is separate.

How many barber shops are there in Washington?

Census County Business Patterns counted 192 barber shops with employees in Washington in 2023. Chair renters and owner-only shops are not in that figure.

Who regulates barbershop insurance in Washington?

The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner oversees insurers and agents; barber licensing is handled by a separate state authority.

Do Washington chair renters carry their own policies?

Most rental agreements require it, and the owner's policy usually does not extend to independent renters.

Where these numbers come from: Census County Business Patterns (https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cbp.html); BLS OEWS (https://www.bls.gov/oes/); American Community Survey 2020–2024; Census 2024 population estimates.

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Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research

Barbershop and barber insurance in Washington