The working guide · Melbourne
Working as a barber in Melbourne
What Melbourne 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, checked 26 October 2026. Melbourne has 17 open roles.
Where the work is
Melbourne's open chairs cluster in Oakleigh, South Melbourne, Malvern East and beyond. Each area links to its own live listing page.
What shops pay in Melbourne
- $26 to $51 an hour9 open roles
- $24,528 to $90,000 a year5 open roles
- $300 a day1 open role
- $900 to $1600 a week1 open role
Another 1 listing doesn'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
- Fades (skin, low, mid, high)16 roles
- Beard design & sculpting14 roles
- Clipper work (all guards)9 roles
- Taper cuts8 roles
- Scissor cutting7 roles
- Classic cuts & pompadours5 roles
- Hot towel shaves4 roles
- Blow-dry & styling4 roles
7 of the 17 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 to become a barber in Australia →
How the roles are shaped
- Rostered / part-time9 roles
- Full-time8 roles
Hiring in Melbourne right now: Lavish fade barbers, Cutting Edge Salon, W barber (Richmond), The Golden Fade (Oakleigh), Lefty's Barbershop (Healesville), Mane Systems (South Melbourne), BSPOKE BARBERSHOP BRIGHTON (Brighton), Bspoke barbershop (Malvern East).
Moving to Melbourne to cut hair
2 of the open Melbourne roles currently advertise visa sponsorship, and shops 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. Moving to Australia →
Read before you apply
Barber Commission and Benefits Explained: How to Read Pay Structures in Australian Barber Job Listings
Flat wage, base plus commission, guaranteed minimum or chair rental? Learn how Australian barber pay structures work and what to check in a job listing.
Visa Sponsorship Barber Jobs in Australia: What Overseas Barbers and Hiring Shops Need to Know
Looking for visa sponsorship barber jobs in Australia? See what to prepare, what to ask a shop, and how shops weigh sponsoring an overseas barber in Australia.
Barber Qualifications and Experience Requirements: What Australian Shops Ask For and How to Show You Meet Them
What qualifications and experience do Australian barbershops ask for? Learn Certificate III requirements, experience levels, and how to prove you qualify.
Frequently asked questions
- How many barber jobs are open in Melbourne right now?
- 17 open roles across Melbourne as of 26 October 2026. The count moves daily as shops post and fill chairs; the live board always has the current set.
- What do barbers earn in Melbourne?
- Going by what Melbourne shops are advertising right now: 9 roles pay $26 to $51 an hour; 5 roles pay $24,528 to $90,000 a year; 1 role pays $300 a day; 1 role pays $900 to $1600 a week. Another 1 role doesn't state pay up front, which usually means it's negotiated on experience. The Hair and Beauty Industry Award sets the legal floor underneath all of it.
- Can I get sponsored to barber in Melbourne?
- 2 of the 17 open Melbourne 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 Melbourne?
- 7 of the 17 open roles ask for under two years behind the chair, so there is 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 17 open Melbourne roles
Live listings, verified shops, apply free. Or build a profile and let shops come to you.