Esthetician Salary in Australia: Award Rates and Take-Home Pay

Understanding the Esthetician Salary in Australia

If you work as an esthetician (beauty therapist) in Australia, your pay is covered by the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020. This award sets minimum rates for classifications from Level 1 to Level 6. A qualified esthetician is typically classified at Level 4, which as of 1 July 2026 pays $30.00 per hour or $1,139.90 per week for full-time employees. The full range for adult employees is $27.81 to $32.00 per hour, depending on your skill level and responsibilities.

How the Esthetician Salary Compares to National Benchmarks

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week – that’s the floor for all employees not covered by an award. The esthetician salary under the award is above that floor. However, the average full-time adult ordinary time earnings in Australia are $2,083.70 per week (ABS, May 2026), which is nearly double the typical esthetician rate. This means estheticians earn above the minimum but below the national average for full-time workers.

Calculating Take-Home Pay for an Esthetician

Let’s look at a typical full-time esthetician earning $30.00 per hour, working 38 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. That’s an annual salary of $59,280. After income tax and the Medicare levy, your take-home pay would be around $47,500 per year (or about $1,826 per fortnight). Here’s how the tax works for 2026–27:

• Tax-free threshold: First $18,200 is tax-free.
• Next bracket: $18,201 to $45,000 taxed at 15 cents per dollar.
• Next bracket: $45,001 to $135,000 taxed at 30 cents per dollar (plus $4,020).
• Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): Up to $700, reducing as income rises.

For $59,280, your tax is roughly $9,780, plus the Medicare levy of 2% ($1,186). The LITO reduces tax by about $325, giving a total tax and Medicare of about $10,640. That leaves take-home of $48,640. But remember, this is an estimate – your actual tax may vary with deductions or HELP repayments.

Medicare Levy and Thresholds

Every resident pays the Medicare levy at 2% of taxable income, unless you earn below the low-income thresholds. The latest single-person thresholds are $28,011 (lower) and $35,013 (upper). If your income is between these, the levy is phased in at 10 cents per dollar. For a full-time esthetician earning $59,280, you pay the full 2%.

Superannuation and Salary Packaging

Your employer must pay superannuation at 12% on top of your salary (from 1 July 2026). For a $59,280 salary, that’s an extra $7,114 into your super fund. This is not deducted from your take-home pay – it’s an additional benefit. Some employers offer salary packaging, which can reduce your taxable income. Check our Salary packaging guide for more.

Using the Award to Check Your Pay

Fair Work provides the Modern Awards Pay Database with exact rates for each classification. You can also use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay Calculator to check your entitlements. Make sure your employer is paying at least the award rate for your level.

Summary

The esthetician salary in Australia is set by an award that ensures a fair minimum above the national minimum wage. While the pay is modest compared to the average full-time earnings, it provides a solid base. Use our Benchmarks page to see how your salary compares, and our Tax and Medicare guide to estimate your take-home pay.