Beauty therapist salary: what you take home after tax

How the Hair and Beauty Award sets your base rate

If you work as a beauty therapist in Australia, your minimum pay is governed by the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020. Fair Work publishes the current minimum rates, which were updated on 1 July 2026. The award classifies employees into six levels based on qualifications and experience.

• Level 1 (entry-level, no formal qualification): $27.81 per hour / $1,056.80 per week
• Level 2: $28.45 / $1,081.00
• Level 3: $29.45 / $1,119.10
• Level 4 (Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy): $30.00 / $1,139.90
• Level 5 (Certificate IV in Hairdressing or Trichology): $30.89 / $1,174.00
• Level 6 (Diploma in Beauty Therapy): $32.00 / $1,215.90

These are the minimums. Some employers may pay above the award, but the award rate is the legal floor. For comparison, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week – so even a Level 1 beauty therapist earns above that.

Your beauty therapist salary will depend on your classification, years of experience, and whether you work full-time, part-time, or casually. Casual employees get a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate.

Calculating your take-home pay

Once you know your gross annual salary, you can estimate what lands in your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy. The 2026–27 tax rates for Australian residents are:

• $0 – $18,200: Nil
• $18,201 – $45,000: 15c for each $1 over $18,200
• $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
• $135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
• $190,001+: $51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

You also pay the Medicare levy of 2% of your taxable income. However, if you earn below $28,011, you pay no Medicare levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, a shading rate applies (10c per $1 over the lower threshold). Full-time beauty therapists almost always earn above $35,013, so you'll pay the full 2%.

The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) can reduce your tax. For 2026–27, the maximum offset is $700 for incomes up to $37,500, then phases out. Many beauty therapists will receive some LITO.

Superannuation is not deducted from your take-home pay. Your employer contributes 12% on top of your gross salary (from 1 July 2026). So if your contract says $60,000 plus super, your employer pays an extra $7,200 into your super fund, but your take-home is calculated on the $60,000.

Example: Level 4 beauty therapist (Certificate IV)

Let's say you're a full-time Level 4 beauty therapist earning the award minimum of $30.00 per hour. Working 38 hours per week, 52 weeks a year:

• Gross annual salary: $30.00 × 38 × 52 = $59,280
• Income tax (using 2026–27 brackets):
• First $18,200: $0
• Next $26,800 ($18,201 to $45,000): $26,800 × 0.15 = $4,020
• Remaining $14,280 ($45,001 to $59,280): $14,280 × 0.30 = $4,284
• Total tax before offsets: $4,020 + $4,284 = $8,304
• LITO: At $59,280, the offset is $325 minus 1.5c per $1 over $45,000. Excess = $14,280 × 0.015 = $214.20. So LITO = $325 – $214.20 = $110.80. Tax after LITO = $8,304 – $110.80 = $8,193.20
• Medicare levy: 2% of $59,280 = $1,185.60
• Total deductions: $8,193.20 + $1,185.60 = $9,378.80
• Estimated take-home pay: $59,280 – $9,378.80 = $49,901.20 per year (about $4,158 per month or $1,919 per fortnight)

This is a simplified estimate. It excludes HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, salary packaging, and any payroll rounding. For a more precise calculation tailored to your situation, use the Take-home pay tool on this site.

Factors that can change your take-home

• Penalty rates and overtime: If you work evenings, weekends, or public holidays, your hourly rate increases significantly (see Schedule B of the award). This boosts your gross pay and therefore your take-home, but also pushes you into higher tax brackets.
• Part-time or casual work: Part-time employees are paid the same hourly rate as full-time but work fewer hours. Casual employees get a 25% loading but no paid leave.
• Salary packaging: Some employers offer salary sacrifice arrangements (e.g., for cars or super). This reduces your taxable income and can increase take-home, but has specific rules.
• Medicare levy surcharge: If you earn above $93,000 (single) and don't have appropriate private hospital cover, you may pay an extra 1% to 1.5%.

For more details on how tax and Medicare work, see our Tax and Medicare guide. And remember, the figures here are based on the award minimums – your actual beauty therapist salary may be higher depending on your employer and experience.