Shigoto Zukan
日本語

How to become 理容師education, training, experience, licenses and the steps to enter

Japan Beauty & Personal Care Confidence ★★★★★

Average annual pay
¥3.89M
≈ $24,707
Top pay (est.)
¥6.33M
Top 10% ¥5.52M
Pay in 5 years
¥4.56Mest.
2031
Pay in 10 years
¥5.34Mest.
¥4.60M–¥6.20M
Outlook score
59/100
★★★☆☆ Average
AI replacement risk
8%
Very low
Labor demand
High
Openings-to-applicants 3.13x

How to become 理容師

The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.

Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
理容師になるには、都道府県知事指定の理容師養成施設昼間・夜間課程の通常課程は２年以上（修得者課程は１年以上）、通信課程の通常課程は３年以上（修得者課程は１年６月以上）で理容師になるのに必要な知識・技能を修得・卒業し、理容師国家試験に合格しなければならない。合格後、理容師免許申請をすることで理容師免許証が交付される。
　2018年4月より、一部の養成施設では美容師の資格者を対象に「修得者課程」が設けられている。修得者課程は履修課程の大幅な減免や履修期間が短縮されており、理容師の資格が取得しやすくなっている。
　理容師の免許を受けた後3年以上理容の業務に従事し、かつ、所定の講習会の課程を修了した者は「管理理容師」の資格が取得できる。「管理理容師」は常時2人以上理容師がいる理髪店に置くことが義務付けられており、将来独立開業する際に役立つ資格である。
　理容師として経験を積んだあと、自分の理髪店を持つ人もいる。

Skills, education and requirements for 理容師

Key skills

Active Listening
4.4
Speaking
3.6
Reading Comprehension
3.3
Social Perceptiveness
3.1
Equipment Selection
2.9
Writing
2.8
Service Orientation
2.6
Persuasion
2.6

Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.

Key knowledge areas

Customer and Personal Service
3.8
Sales and Marketing
1.9
Administration and Management
1.7
Communications and Media
1.6
Economics and Accounting
1.5
Personnel and Human Resources
1.4
Administrative
1.3
Psychology
1.2

What the work involves

Handling and Moving ObjectsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgePerforming General Physical ActivitiesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsThinking CreativelyGetting Information

Important abilities

Manual DexterityArm-Hand SteadinessWrist-Finger SpeedFinger DexteritySpeed of Limb MovementNear Vision

Licenses and certifications (Japan)

Related qualifications listed on job tag (names in Japanese). Some are mandatory, others recommended.

Education of workers

Training before entry

Related work experience

Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience, licenses)

Career path and how to earn more as 理容師

Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), Population Census and Hello Work employment statistics as published on the MHLW job tag site (retrieved Nov 1, 2026); Occupational Information Database (JILPT). Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.