Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020 — Pay Rates July 2026
Minimum pay rates effective 1 July 2026 under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020. All rates verified directly against the official Fair Work Commission pay guide published 24 June 2026.
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Effective 1 July 2026 · Adult rates only · Source: Fair Work Commission
| Classification | Full-time / Part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Hairdressing graduate (first 12 months) | $27.24/hr | $34.05/hr |
| Beauty therapy graduate (first 12 months) | $27.24/hr | $34.05/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 1 | $27.81/hr | $34.76/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 2 | $28.45/hr | $35.56/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 3 | $29.45/hr | $36.81/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 4 | $30.00/hr | $37.50/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 5 | $30.89/hr | $38.61/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 6 | $32.00/hr | $40.00/hr |
Junior, apprentice & trainee rates
Reduced rates that apply by age, apprenticeship year or training stage — check which classification matches your situation.
| Classification | Full-time / Part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Hair and beauty employee level 1 - Junior (Under 17yo) | $13.91/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 2 - Junior (Under 17yo) | $14.23/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Did not complete year 12 - 0-6 months | $14.73/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Did not complete year 12 - 1st year | $14.73/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Did not complete year 12 - 0-6 months | $14.73/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 3 - Junior (Under 17yo) | $14.73/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Did not complete year 12 - 1st year | $14.73/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 4 - Junior (Under 17yo) | $15.00/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 5 - Junior (Under 17yo) | $15.45/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 6 - Junior (Under 17yo) | $16.00/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Completed year 12 - 1st year | $16.20/hr | — |
| Hairdressing trainee - less than 1000 hours of full-time accredited training | $16.20/hr | $20.25/hr |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Completed year 12 - 0-6 months | $16.20/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Completed year 12 - 1st year | $16.20/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Did not complete year 12 - 7-12 months | $16.20/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Did not complete year 12 - 7-12 months | $16.20/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Completed year 12 - 0-6 months | $16.20/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Completed year 12 - 7-12 months | $16.20/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Completed year 12 - 7-12 months | $16.20/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 1 - Junior Casual (Under 17yo) | — | $17.39/hr |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Did not complete year 12 - 13-18 months | $17.67/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Did not complete year 12 - 2nd year | $17.67/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Did not complete year 12 - 13-18 months | $17.67/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Did not complete year 12 - 2nd year | $17.67/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 2 - Junior Casual (Under 17yo) | — | $17.79/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 3 - Junior Casual (Under 17yo) | — | $18.41/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 4 - Junior Casual (Under 17yo) | — | $18.75/hr |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Completed year 12 - 2nd year | $19.14/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Completed year 12 - 13-18 months | $19.14/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Completed year 12 - 13-18 months | $19.14/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Completed year 12 - 2nd year | $19.14/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 5 - Junior Casual (Under 17yo) | — | $19.31/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 6 - Junior Casual (Under 17yo) | — | $20.00/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 1 - Junior (17yo) | $20.86/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 2 - Junior (17yo) | $21.34/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 3 - Junior (17yo) | $22.09/hr | — |
| Hairdressing trainee - 1000-2000 hours of accredited full-time training | $22.09/hr | $27.61/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 4 - Junior (17yo) | $22.50/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Did not complete year 12 - 19-30 months | $22.68/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Did not complete year 12 - 19-30 months | $22.68/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Completed year 12 - 19-30 months | $22.68/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Did not complete year 12 - 3rd year | $22.68/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Completed year 12 - 3rd year | $22.68/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - Started after 1 Jan 2014 - Completed year 12 - 19-30 months | $22.68/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 5 - Junior (17yo) | $23.17/hr | — |
| Adult hairdressing apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - 7-12 months | $23.56/hr | — |
| Adult hairdressing apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - 0-6 months | $23.56/hr | — |
| Adult beauty therapy apprentice - 1st year | $23.56/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Completed year 12 - 3rd year | $23.56/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Did not complete year 12 - 3rd year | $23.56/hr | — |
| Adult beauty therapy apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - 7-12 months | $23.56/hr | — |
| Adult beauty therapy apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - 0-6 months | $23.56/hr | — |
| Adult hairdressing apprentice - 1st year | $23.56/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 6 - Junior (17yo) | $24.00/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 1 - Junior Casual (17yo) | — | $26.08/hr |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Completed year 12 - 4th year | $26.51/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Completed year 12 - 4th year | $26.51/hr | — |
| Hairdressing apprentice - Did not complete year 12 - 4th year | $26.51/hr | — |
| Beauty therapy apprentice - Did not complete year 12 - 4th year | $26.51/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 2 - Junior Casual (17yo) | — | $26.68/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 3 - Junior Casual (17yo) | — | $27.61/hr |
| Adult hairdressing apprentice - 4th year | $27.81/hr | — |
| Adult beauty therapy apprentice - 3rd year | $27.81/hr | — |
| Adult hairdressing apprentice - 2nd year | $27.81/hr | — |
| Adult hairdressing apprentice - 3rd year | $27.81/hr | — |
| Adult hairdressing apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - 19-30 months | $27.81/hr | — |
| Adult beauty therapy apprentice - 4th year | $27.81/hr | — |
| Adult beauty therapy apprentice - 2nd year | $27.81/hr | — |
| Adult beauty therapy apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - 13-18 months | $27.81/hr | — |
| Adult beauty therapy apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - 19-30 months | $27.81/hr | — |
| Adult hairdressing apprentice - Pre-apprenticeship completed - 13-18 months | $27.81/hr | — |
| Hair and beauty employee level 4 - Junior Casual (17yo) | — | $28.13/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 5 - Junior Casual (17yo) | — | $28.96/hr |
| Hair and beauty employee level 6 - Junior Casual (17yo) | — | $30.00/hr |
Penalty rates — Hairdressing graduate (first 12 months)
Full-time/part-time and casual rates often differ — casual employees receive a higher percentage on top of the 25% casual loading.
| When | Full-time / Part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | $54.48/hr 200% | $61.29/hr 180% |
| Public Holiday | $68.10/hr 250% | $68.10/hr 200% |
| Overtime (first 3 hrs) | $40.86/hr 150% | $47.67/hr 140% |
| Overtime (after 3 hrs) | $54.48/hr 200% | $61.29/hr 180% |
| Saturday Between 7am 6pm | $36.23/hr 133% | $43.04/hr 126% |
| Working On Rdo | $54.48/hr 200% | — |
| Monday Friday Before 7am After 9pm | — | $40.86/hr 120% |
| Saturday Before 7am After 6pm | — | $40.86/hr 120% |
Common questions about the Hair and Beauty Industry Award
What is the minimum wage under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award?
The minimum full-time rate under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award from 1 July 2026 is $27.24 per hour. Casual employees receive an additional 25% loading, making the minimum casual rate $34.05 per hour.
What is the casual loading under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award?
Casual employees receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base rate, which compensates for the lack of paid leave entitlements. Casual penalty rates for weekends, evenings and public holidays are usually higher again than the full-time/part-time penalty rates - not just the base rate plus 25% - so check the specific casual figures in the table above rather than estimating.
When did the Hair and Beauty Industry Award rates last change?
Current rates took effect 1 July 2026 following the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review decision, which applied a 4.75% increase to Modern Award minimum rates (the National Minimum Wage floor for award-free workers rose separately, by 5.97%, to $26.44/hr). Rates are reviewed and updated every 1 July.
What happens if my employer pays me less than the Hair and Beauty Industry Award minimum?
Paying below the award minimum is a breach of the Fair Work Act 2009. You can report underpayment to the Fair Work Ombudsman at fairwork.gov.au or call 13 13 94. Investigations are free and you may be entitled to back pay for up to 6 years.
Check your pay against these rates
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Start free wage checkAll rates sourced from Fair Work Commission pay guides effective 1 July 2026. Rates verified against official FWC published documents and updated annually on 1 July. This is factual information only — not legal advice. FairLanding (ABN 34 583 311 963) operates under Section 280 of the Migration Act 1958. For advice specific to your situation, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman at fairwork.gov.au or 13 13 94.