How to become a Hair or Beauty Salon Assistant

Assists Hairdressers or Beauty Therapists by performing routine tasks in a hairdressing or beauty salon.

Main tasks

• Prepares clients for beauty and hair appointments
• Assists during beauty treatments such as facials and manicures, or hair cutting, styling and colouring
• Cleans and maintains salon equipment and tools
• Assists with reception duties such as answering phone calls and scheduling appointments
• Stocks and organises salon products and supplies

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Beauty Services (SHB30121); Certificate II in Salon Assistant (SHB20216); Certificate III in Barbering (SHB30516); Certificate II in Retail Cosmetics (SHB20121); Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy (SHB40121); Certificate IV in Hairdressing (SHB40216); Certificate III in Hairdressing (SHB30416); Diploma of Beauty Therapy (SHB50121)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• About 21,000 people work in this job group now, and about 23,500 are projected by 2035. (+11.5%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Hair or Beauty Salon Assistant?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Beauty Services; Certificate II in Salon Assistant.

Is a Hair or Beauty Salon Assistant a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 12% by 2035, from about 21,000 to about 23,500 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Hair or Beauty Salon Assistant?

Usually not. Only 6% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Beauty Services; Certificate II in Salon Assistant.

Will AI change the work of a Hair or Beauty Salon Assistant?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04