Beauty Therapist
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Why this shortage: Retention gap
Snapshot
Median salary
A$41,300
Full-time annual
Shortage signal
Shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Provides skin care, beauty and body treatments to clients.
Alternative titles
Beautician
Specialisations
Scope note: Body Artists and Make-up Artists are excluded from this occupation. Body Artists are included in Occupation 461231 Body Artist. Make-up Artists are included in Occupation 461232 Make-up Artist.
Read official OSCA descriptionSkills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Performs a range of beauty treatments such as facials, spray tanning, eyebrow shaping and waxing
- Administers body treatments such as massages, body wraps and scrubs
- Conducts skin analyses to determine clients' skin type and condition, and uses superficial beauty devices to treat clients' skin
- Advises on skincare routines and sells beauty products to clients
- Maintains a clean and hygienic work area, and sterilises equipment in adherence to health regulations
- May apply artificial beauty products such as nails or eyelashes
- May perform cosmetic tattooing on clients
Credentials & Pathway
OSCA skill level 3
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Official VET pathways
Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy
Occupation ready
Certificate III in Nail Technology
Occupation ready
Certificate III in Beauty Services
Progression pathway
Diploma of Beauty Therapy
Specialised training
Advanced Diploma of Intense Pulsed Light and Laser for Hair Reduction
Specialised training
Advanced Diploma of Skin Therapy
Specialised training
Certificate IV in Massage Therapy
Transferable skills
Certificate III in Make-Up
Transferable skills
Diploma of Cosmetic Tattooing
Transferable skills
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
83
ACT · May 2026
9
VIC · May 2026
77
NT · May 2026
3
SA · May 2026
20
NSW · May 2026
97
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+4%
1,662 projected jobs
to 2035
+11%
4,145 projected jobs
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Beauty Therapist.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Melbourne - West
2,015 estimated employed
- 1
Melbourne - West
2,015 employed
VIC
+17.56%
year on year
- 2
Sydney - South West
1,932 employed
NSW
-1.98%
year on year
- 3
Sydney - Inner South West
1,720 employed
NSW
0%
year on year
- 4
Melbourne - South East
1,601 employed
VIC
-1.66%
year on year
- 5
Perth - North West
1,481 employed
WA
+1.72%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
23,820
Moved in from another occupation
4,520
Moved to another occupation
3,945
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
4
points
- 2
3
points
- 3
3
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
2
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 461131
- Last updated
- Refresh pending
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2024 — Jobs and Skills Australia
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: estimate.