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Beauty Therapist Salary: Award Rates, Annual Pay, and Tax Guide

A full-time beauty therapist at Level 1 earns $27.81 per hour, or $54,929 annually based on 38 hours per week, with super and tax estimated on top.

Understanding the Beauty Therapist Salary

If you are looking for a beauty therapist salary that reflects the legal minimum, the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020 sets the benchmark. This award covers hairdressers, beauty therapists, and salon assistants. The rates are updated each year by the Fair Work Commission. For 2026–27, the minimum hourly rate for a Level 1 hair and beauty employee is $27.81. That is above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour, reflecting the specialised skills in the industry.

Award Classifications and Hourly Rates

The award divides employees into six levels based on qualifications and experience. A beauty therapist with a Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy is classified as Level 4 ($30.00 per hour). A therapist holding a Diploma in Beauty Therapy reaches Level 6 ($32.00 per hour). These rates apply to full-time and part-time employees working ordinary hours between 7.00 am and 9.00 pm, Monday to Friday. For work outside those hours, penalty rates apply.

Casual Loading and Penalty Rates

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. For a Level 1 casual, that means $34.76 per hour for ordinary hours. Casual penalty rates are higher again: for Saturday ordinary hours between 7.00 am and 6.00 pm, the rate is 158% of the minimum hourly rate (including the casual loading), which for Level 1 is $43.94. Sunday ordinary hours attract 225% ($62.57). Always check the award for the exact penalty that applies to your shift.

Calculating Annual Pay from an Hourly Rate

To find your annual gross salary, use the formula:

Hourly rate × hours per week × 52

For a full-time beauty therapist working 38 hours per week at Level 1 ($27.81):

  • Annual gross: $27.81 × 38 × 52 = $54,929
  • Fortnightly pay: $27.81 × 38 × 2 = $2,113.56

This calculation assumes you work the same hours every week with no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, and no allowances. If you work part-time, adjust the weekly hours accordingly. The hourly conversion tool on this site can help you switch between hourly and annual figures.

Tax and Superannuation on Your Beauty Therapist Salary

Your take-home pay depends on tax and the Medicare levy. For 2026–27, the resident tax rates are:

  • $0 to $18,200: nil
  • $18,201 to $45,000: 15% on the excess over $18,200
  • $45,001 to $135,000: 30% on the excess over $45,000
  • $135,001 to $190,000: 37%
  • Over $190,000: 45%

Plus a 2% Medicare levy (based on 2025–26 single reduction thresholds). For a $54,929 annual salary, the estimated tax is about $7,479 and Medicare $1,099, leaving a take-home of around $46,351. Use the take-home pay page for a detailed breakdown.

Superannuation is paid on top of your salary. Your employer must contribute 12% of your ordinary earnings into a super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a Level 1 employee, that adds $6,591 per year. This is not deducted from your pay; it is an extra cost to the employer. Learn more about super and packaging.

Comparing Beauty Therapist Pay with Other Benchmarks

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults (May 2026) were $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 annually. A Level 1 beauty therapist at $54,929 is below that average, reflecting the entry-level nature of the role. However, experienced therapists at Level 6 earn $32.00 per hour, or $63,232 annually, which is closer to the all-employees total earnings average of $1,579.20 per week ($82,118).

Using the Timesheet to Estimate Your Pay

Our timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add the 25% casual loading. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading; the checkbox adds it correctly. The tool then shows your annual gross, fortnightly pay, estimated tax, Medicare, and super. It uses the 2026–27 tax scale and the 12% super guarantee rate. Remember, the results are estimates only.

Important Disclaimer

Annual pay shown here is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

Further Reading

For the most accurate and current rates, always consult the Fair Work Ombudsman or the Fair Work Commission directly. The award is updated each 1 July, so check the latest version.

Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.

Try the rate on a timesheet

Adjust the timesheet

Year, gross$52,245.4452 weeks at this rate

Starts at the adult National Minimum Wage. Change the rate if the job pays more.

Level with the adult National Minimum Wage.

Mon$200.947.6 h
Tue$200.947.6 h
Wed$200.947.6 h
Thu$200.947.6 h
Fri$200.947.6 h
One fortnight$2,009.44 gross
  • Take-home
  • Tax
  • Medicare
Super 12%, paid on top$6,269.45 a year
Week
$1,004.72
Fortnight
$2,009.44
Take-home a year
$45,006.90
Tax + Medicare
$7,238.54
  • 16 h$21,998
  • 20 h$27,498
  • 24 h$32,997
  • 30 h$41,246
  • 38 h$52,245
  • 40 h$54,995

Resident tax for 2026–27 with the tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds. No HELP, no salary sacrifice, no Medicare levy surcharge. Super is 12% of ordinary earnings only, capped at the maximum contribution base.

Questions people ask next

What is the minimum hourly rate for a beauty therapist under the Hair and Beauty Award?

From 1 July 2026, the minimum hourly rate for a Level 1 hair and beauty employee is $27.81. Higher levels apply for therapists with higher qualifications: Level 4 (Certificate IV) $30.00, Level 6 (Diploma) $32.00. These rates are for full-time and part-time employees. Casual employees receive an additional 25% loading, making the casual rate $34.76 for Level 1.

How do I calculate my annual salary as a beauty therapist?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work per week, then by 52. For a full-time employee working 38 hours per week at Level 1 ($27.81/hour), the annual gross salary is $27.81 × 38 × 52 = $54,929. This assumes no overtime, penalties, or allowances. Your fortnightly pay would be $27.81 × 38 × 2 = $2,113.56 before tax.

Does the beauty therapist salary include superannuation?

No, superannuation is paid on top of your base salary. Under the award and super guarantee legislation, your employer must contribute an additional 12% of your ordinary earnings into a super fund. For a Level 1 full-time employee earning $54,929, that adds about $6,591 per year, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830.

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