What is the minimum wage for a dermal therapist in Australia?

The minimum wage depends on whether you are covered by the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020. Under that award, an adult beauty therapy employee (Level 1) must be paid at least $27.81 per hour or $1,056.80 per week (38 hours). If you are award‑free, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour applies. Junior employees, apprentices, and trainees may receive lower percentages. Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of these rates.

How does superannuation affect my dermal therapist salary?

Superannuation is an employer contribution on top of your ordinary time earnings. For the 2026‑27 year, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time pay. It is not deducted from your salary; it is paid separately into a complying super fund. The minimum rates quoted (e.g. $27.81 per hour) do not include super.

What is the casual loading for a dermal therapist?

Under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020, a casual employee receives a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. For an adult Level 1 beauty therapist, that means $34.76 per hour ($27.81 × 1.25). The national minimum casual rate is $33.05 per hour. Casual loadings are paid instead of paid leave entitlements.

Dermal Therapist Salary: How to Check Your Pay Against the Legal Minimum

The legal minimum for a dermal therapist depends on the applicable award classification; under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020, adult beauty therapy employees earn at least $27.81 per hour, while the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour.

Dermal Therapist Salary: Know Your Pay Floor

If you are searching for a dermal therapist salary in Australia, the first step is to identify the legal minimum that applies to your role. Dermal therapists are typically classified under the Beauty Therapy stream of the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020 (MA000005), which is set by the Fair Work Commission and enforced by the Fair Work Ombudsman. This guide helps you separate the award minimum from survey averages and negotiated salaries, so you can check whether a quoted rate meets the legal floor.

Legal Minimum Under the Award

The Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020 covers employees performing beauty therapy work, including dermal therapy. For an adult employee (21 years or older) who is not an apprentice or trainee, the minimum hourly rate depends on the classification level. The lowest adult classification – Hair and beauty employee Level 1 – pays $27.81 per hour or $1,056.80 per week for a full‑time employee working 38 ordinary hours. Higher levels (Level 2 to Level 6) attract progressively higher rates, up to $32.00 per hour for Level 6. These rates apply from 1 July 2026 and incorporate the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase.

If your employer is not covered by any modern award, or if your role falls outside the award’s scope, the national minimum wage applies: $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (adult rate). Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate – for award‑covered workers that is $34.76 per hour at Level 1, and for award‑free workers $33.05 per hour.

Junior, Apprentice and Trainee Rates

Not every dermal therapist receives the adult rate. Junior employees (under 18) are paid a percentage of the adult rate: 50% at under 17 years, 75% at 17 years, and 100% at 18 years. Apprentices in beauty therapy have their own progressive rates – for example, a first‑year apprentice who has not completed Year 12 receives 50% of the standard rate ($14.73 per hour). Trainees and graduates also have specific minimums. Always check the award’s classification definitions to see which rate applies to you.

Survey Averages vs. Legal Minimum

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) provides median earnings for “Beauty Therapists” (occupation code 4511). According to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2023), the median full‑time weekly earnings for beauty therapists was $1,200 and median hourly earnings were $33. This is a survey average, not a legal requirement. Many dermal therapists earn above the award minimum due to experience, qualifications, or enterprise agreements. However, no employer can pay less than the applicable award or national minimum, regardless of what the “average” salary is.

Superannuation Is Paid on Top

When discussing any dermal therapist salary, remember that the superannuation guarantee is an employer contribution paid on top of your ordinary time earnings. For the 2026‑27 financial year, the rate is 12%. If your salary is quoted as $27.81 per hour, your employer must also contribute an additional 12% (about $3.34 per hour) to your super fund. This is not deducted from your pay.

How to Check Your Own Rate

To verify whether a dermal therapist salary meets the legal minimum:

Identify your award coverage. Most beauty salons and clinics are covered by the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020. If you are unsure, use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Find My Award tool.
Find your classification. The award lists six levels for hair and beauty employees. Dermal therapists often fall under Level 3 or Level 4, but check the job descriptions in the award.
Look up the minimum rate. Use the Rate tables on this site or the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database.
Compare your hourly rate. If you are paid less than the award minimum, your employer may be underpaying you. Enterprise agreements can set higher but not lower rates.

For award‑free employees, the national minimum wage is the floor. The Which minimum wage applies page explains how to determine your coverage.

What About Negotiated Salaries?

A dermal therapist salary can be higher than the award minimum – for example, through an enterprise agreement or individual contract. The award only sets the minimum; you can negotiate above it. However, any agreement that pays below the award rate is unlawful. Always compare a quoted salary against the award rate for your classification and experience level.

Summary

The legal minimum for a dermal therapist in Australia is either the award rate under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020 (starting at $27.81 per hour for Level 1) or the national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour) if award‑free. Survey averages from the ABS show median earnings around $33 per hour, but these are not enforceable. Superannuation of 12% is paid on top. Use the Guides section for more detailed comparisons and How the figures work for an explanation of the calculations behind the rates.