Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000005)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Hair and Beauty Industry Award covers employees working in hairdressing salons, barber shops, beauty salons, nail salons, skin clinics, day spas, and tanning studios across Australia. If you work as a hairdresser, barber, beauty therapist, nail technician, massage therapist (in a salon setting), dermal therapist, or salon receptionist, this award applies to you. It covers roughly 90,000 workers.
This award applies specifically to the hair and beauty industry as defined in clause 4.1. It does NOT cover massage therapists working in a standalone massage clinic or physiotherapy practice (Health Professionals Award, MA000027), beauty services provided within a hotel or resort spa (Hospitality Industry Award, MA000009), or retail staff who sell beauty products in a department store or pharmacy (General Retail Industry Award, MA000004). The test is whether the business primarily provides hair and beauty services to clients.
How classification levels work
The award has six classification levels (clause 14 and Schedule A). Level 1 covers entry-level salon assistants and receptionists. Level 2 covers employees with a Certificate II qualification or equivalent experience. Level 3 covers qualified hairdressers and beauty therapists holding a Certificate III. Level 4 covers senior stylists and therapists with advanced qualifications (Certificate IV or equivalent). Level 5 covers salon managers, head stylists, and technical educators. Level 6 covers senior managers in multi-location businesses. Your classification depends on your qualifications and the actual duties you perform.
Saturday trading and industry hours
Hair and beauty businesses typically trade on Saturdays, which is the busiest day for most salons. The award reflects this with specific Saturday penalty rates (133% for permanent employees during normal trading hours). Sunday trading is less common and attracts higher penalties (200% for permanent, 225% for casual). The ordinary span of hours runs from 7:00am to 9:00pm Monday to Friday and 7:00am to 6:00pm Saturday (clause 26.1), so Saturday is treated as a normal trading day with a modest loading rather than a full weekend penalty.
Classification Levels and Base Rates
All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
| Level | Typical Roles (Schedule A) | Weekly Rate | Hourly Rate | Casual Rate (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Salon assistant, receptionist, junior (entry-level, no qualification) | $1,008.90 | $26.55 | $33.19 |
| Level 2 | Salon assistant (Cert II), apprentice hairdresser (3rd/4th year), beauty assistant | $1,032.00 | $27.16 | $33.95 |
| Level 3 | Qualified hairdresser (Cert III), qualified beauty therapist (Cert III), barber | $1,068.40 | $28.12 | $35.15 |
| Level 4 | Senior stylist (Cert IV), senior beauty therapist, dermal therapist, colour specialist | $1,088.20 | $28.64 | $35.80 |
| Level 5 | Salon manager, head stylist, technical educator, principal therapist | $1,120.80 | $29.49 | $36.86 |
| Level 6 | Multi-salon manager, area manager, senior educator | $1,160.80 | $30.55 | $38.19 |
Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38 (clause 13.1). Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25 (clause 11.1).
Note: Graduates with a Certificate III who have been qualified for less than 12 months may receive 92.5% of the Level 3 rate ($26.01/hr) for the first 12 months (clause 15.3).
Penalty Rates
All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate (clause 26 and clause 28).
Full-Time and Part-Time Employees
| When you work | Penalty | Level 1 example | Level 3 example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday 7am-9pm (ordinary hours) | 100% | $26.55/hr | $28.12/hr |
| Saturday 7am-6pm | 133% (clause 26.3(a)) | $35.31/hr | $37.40/hr |
| Sunday 10am-5pm | 200% (clause 26.3(b)) | $53.10/hr | $56.24/hr |
| Public holiday | 250% (clause 26.3(c)) | $66.38/hr | $70.30/hr |
| RDO (rostered day off, if required to work) | 200% (clause 26.3(d)) | $53.10/hr | $56.24/hr |
| Overtime -- first 3 hours (Mon-Sat) | 150% (clause 28.1(a)) | $39.83/hr | $42.18/hr |
| Overtime -- after 3 hours (Mon-Sat) | 200% (clause 28.1(a)) | $53.10/hr | $56.24/hr |
| Overtime -- Sunday | 200% (clause 28.1(b)) | $53.10/hr | $56.24/hr |
| Overtime -- public holiday | 250% (clause 28.1(c)) | $66.38/hr | $70.30/hr |
Casual Employees
| When you work | Penalty (on base rate) | Level 1 example | Level 3 example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday 7am-9pm (ordinary hours) | 125% | $33.19/hr | $35.15/hr |
| Monday to Friday before 7am or after 9pm | 150% (clause 26.5) | $39.83/hr | $42.18/hr |
| Saturday 7am-6pm | 150% (clause 26.5) | $39.83/hr | $42.18/hr |
| Saturday before 7am or after 6pm | 150% (clause 26.5) | $39.83/hr | $42.18/hr |
| Sunday | 225% (clause 26.5) | $59.74/hr | $63.27/hr |
| Public holiday | 275% (clause 26.5) | $73.01/hr | $77.33/hr |
| Overtime -- first 3 hours (Mon-Sat) | 175% (clause 28.3) | $46.46/hr | $49.21/hr |
| Overtime -- after 3 hours (Mon-Sat) | 225% (clause 28.3) | $59.74/hr | $63.27/hr |
| Overtime -- Sunday | 225% (clause 28.3) | $59.74/hr | $63.27/hr |
| Overtime -- public holiday | 275% (clause 28.3) | $73.01/hr | $77.33/hr |
Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. Sunday casual = base x 2.25 (not base x 1.25 x 2.00). Note the Saturday rate is 133% for permanent (not the usual 125% or 150% seen in other awards). See clause 26.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Casual hairdresser working a Saturday
Chloe is a casual Level 3 (qualified hairdresser) who works a 7-hour Saturday shift, 9am to 4pm.
- Base rate: $28.12/hr
- Saturday casual rate (7am-6pm): 150% = $28.12 x 1.50 = $42.18/hr
- Total for 7 hours: $295.26 gross
- Clause reference: clause 26.5
Example 2: Full-time beauty therapist on a Sunday
Nadia is a permanent Level 4 senior beauty therapist who works a 5-hour Sunday shift (10am to 3pm) at a day spa.
- Base rate: $28.64/hr
- Sunday rate: 200% = $28.64 x 2.00 = $57.28/hr
- Total for 5 hours: $286.40 gross
- Clause reference: clause 26.3(b)
Example 3: Part-time receptionist with overtime on a Saturday
Kate is a part-time Level 1 salon receptionist. Her agreed hours are 8am to 2pm Saturday (6 hours). The salon is busy and her boss asks her to stay until 5pm.
- Base rate: $26.55/hr
- Ordinary hours 8am-2pm: Saturday rate 133% = $26.55 x 1.33 = $35.31/hr x 6 hours = $211.86
- 2pm to 5pm is outside Kate's agreed hours, so overtime applies
- Overtime first 3 hours (Saturday): 150% = $26.55 x 1.50 = $39.83/hr x 3 hours = $119.49
- Total for 9 hours: $331.35 gross
- Note: The overtime rate (150%) is higher than the ordinary Saturday rate (133%), so Kate earns more per hour for the overtime portion.
- Clause reference: clause 10.5, clause 28.1(a)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the ordinary trading hours for salons under this award?
The ordinary span of hours is 7:00am to 9:00pm Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 6:00pm Saturday, and 10:00am to 5:00pm Sunday (clause 26.1). Hours worked within this span on Monday to Friday are paid at the base rate. Saturday hours within the span attract 133%. Sunday hours within the span attract 200%. Hours outside these spans are treated as overtime if they exceed 38 hours per week.
2. What is the minimum shift length for salon employees?
Full-time and part-time employees must be engaged for a minimum of 3 consecutive hours per shift (clause 10.5). Casual employees also have a 3-hour minimum engagement (clause 11.2). At the Level 1 casual rate ($33.19/hr), the minimum payment for any weekday casual shift is $99.57 gross. On a Saturday, the minimum is 3 x $39.83 = $119.49 gross.
3. Do I get paid for client no-shows?
Yes. Your employer must pay you for your rostered hours regardless of whether clients attend their appointments. If a client does not show up, you are still working -- you are available at the salon and may perform other duties like cleaning, restocking, or client communication. Your pay is based on your rostered hours, not on how many clients you actually serve. An employer cannot dock your pay or send you home early without paying you for the minimum engagement.
4. I am a qualified hairdresser who just graduated. Can my employer pay me less than the Level 3 rate?
For the first 12 months after obtaining your Certificate III, your employer may pay you 92.5% of the Level 3 rate (clause 15.3). This graduate rate is $26.01/hr (92.5% of $28.12). After 12 months as a qualified hairdresser, you must be paid the full Level 3 rate of $28.12/hr. This provision applies only to hairdressers and only during the first 12 months of post-qualification employment, regardless of which employer you work for.
5. Does this award cover freelance or booth-rent hairdressers?
No. The Hair and Beauty Industry Award only covers employees in an employer-employee relationship. If you rent a chair or booth from a salon owner and operate as an independent contractor (ABN, own clients, set own prices), you are not an employee and are not covered by this award. However, the Fair Work Ombudsman has found that many "booth rent" arrangements are actually sham contracting, where the worker is legally an employee despite being called a contractor. If your salon owner controls your hours, sets your prices, or requires you to be available at set times, you may actually be an employee entitled to award rates.
Check Your Rate
Working in a salon and want to check your pay? Use our free calculator to get your exact rate.
Select your role (salon assistant, qualified hairdresser, beauty therapist, receptionist, manager), enter your employment type and when you work, and get an instant breakdown. The calculator handles the 133% Saturday rate, graduate rates, and all penalty loadings with clause references.
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Home > Awards > Hair and Beauty Industry Award (MA000005)
Rates current as of 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission, CC BY 4.0. This information is general in nature and is not legal advice. Always verify rates against the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) at calculate.fairwork.gov.au.