Hair and Beauty Award Pay Rates by Level
Adult minimum rates for full-time and part-time employees under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020. Part-time employees are paid the same hourly rate as full-time employees at their classification — the difference is hours, not rate. The casual column adds the 25% loading (cl 11.2).
| Classification level | Weekly (38 hrs) | Hourly | Casual hourly (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $1,056.80 | $27.81 | $34.76 |
| Level 2 | $1,081.00 | $28.45 | $35.56 |
| Level 3 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Level 4 | $1,139.90 | $30.00 | $37.50 |
| Level 5 | $1,174.00 | $30.89 | $38.61 |
| Level 6 | $1,215.90 | $32.00 | $40.00 |
Weekly rates are the award’s minimum weekly rate for a full-time employee (cl 17.1, Table 4); hourly is the weekly rate divided by 38.
Which level am I?
- Level 3: The standard rate: apprentice rates are a percentage of the Level 3 adult rate (Schedule B.5.1).
Saturday is 133%, casual public holidays are 250%, and adult pay starts at 18
Salon Saturdays are paid at 133% ($36.99 at Level 1), not the 125% most awards use. On a public holiday a casual gets 250% — the same as a permanent employee, because the 25% loading is not added. Juniors reach the adult rate at 18: under-17s get 50% and 17-year-olds 75%.
Hair and Beauty Award Pay Guide 2026-27: Every Level, Every Day
The hourly rate for each classification at each penalty band, in the layout of the Fair Work pay guide. Find your level, then the day you worked.
Full-time and part-time
| Classification | Mon–Fri 7am–9pm100% | Sat 7am–6pm133% | Sunday200% | Public holiday250% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $27.81 | $36.99 | $55.62 | $69.53 |
| Level 2 | $28.45 | $37.84 | $56.90 | $71.13 |
| Level 3 | $29.45 | $39.17 | $58.90 | $73.63 |
| Level 4 | $30.00 | $39.90 | $60.00 | $75.00 |
| Level 5 | $30.89 | $41.08 | $61.78 | $77.23 |
| Level 6 | $32.00 | $42.56 | $64.00 | $80.00 |
Casual
| Classification | Mon–Fri 7am–9pm125% | Sat 7am–6pm158% | Sunday225% | Public holiday250% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $34.76 | $43.94 | $62.57 | $69.53 |
| Level 2 | $35.56 | $44.95 | $64.01 | $71.13 |
| Level 3 | $36.81 | $46.53 | $66.26 | $73.63 |
| Level 4 | $37.50 | $47.40 | $67.50 | $75.00 |
| Level 5 | $38.61 | $48.81 | $69.50 | $77.23 |
| Level 6 | $40.00 | $50.56 | $72.00 | $80.00 |
Casual figures are the award's casual percentages, which already include the 25% loading where it applies. Figures are rounded to the cent. A dash means the column does not apply to that classification.
Hair and Beauty Award Penalty Rates
| When worked | Full-time / part-time | $ on Level 1 | Casual | $ casual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday — 7.00 am to 6.00 pm | 133% | $36.99 | 158% | $43.94 |
| Sunday — 10.00 am to 5.00 pm (casuals: any time of day) | 200% | $55.62 | 225% | $62.57 |
| Public holiday — any time of dayTable 15 sets casuals at 250% on a public holiday — the same as full-time and part-time employees. The 25% loading is not added on top.Public holiday pay calculator & dates by state → | 250% | $69.53 | 250% | $69.53 |
| Rostered day off (worked by written agreement)Paid for at least 4 hours (cl 23.3(c)). | 200% | $55.62 | – | – |
| Casuals — Monday to Friday before 7.00 am or after 9.00 pmOutside the span of ordinary hours; full-time and part-time employees are paid overtime for this time. | – | – | 150% | $41.72 |
| Casuals — Saturday before 7.00 am or after 6.00 pmOutside the Saturday span; full-time and part-time employees are paid overtime. | – | – | 150% | $41.72 |
Source: cl 23, Tables 14 and 15.
Ordinary hours can only be worked Monday to Friday 7.00 am to 9.00 pm, Saturday 7.00 am to 6.00 pm and Sunday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm (cl 14.4, Table 2). Outside those spans a full-time or part-time employee is on overtime.
The casual loading of 25% applies to ordinary hours between 7.00 am and 9.00 pm Monday to Friday (cl 11.2); the casual weekend and public holiday percentages in Table 15 already include it where it applies.
Hair and Beauty Award Overtime Rates
| Overtime worked | Full-time / part-time | $ on Level 1 | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday — first 3 hours | 150% | $41.72 | 175% · $48.67 |
| Monday to Saturday — after 3 hours | 200% | $55.62 | 225% · $62.57 |
| Sunday — all overtime hours | 200% | $55.62 | 225% · $62.57 |
| Public holiday — all overtime hours | 250% | $69.53 | 250% · $69.53 |
| Rostered day off — all overtime hours | 200% | $55.62 | – |
Source: cl 22.5, Table 13.
Casual overtime includes the 25% loading except on public holidays, where it is 250% (Table 13 NOTE 1). Casuals are on overtime after 38 ordinary hours a week or 10.5 hours in a day (cl 22.4).
Hair and Beauty Award Junior Rates
Junior rates are a percentage of the adult rate for the classification (cl 17.2, Table 5), and apply to every classification (apprentices are paid under cl 18 instead). The dollar columns apply the percentage to Level 1 ($1,056.80 a week) and divide by 38. The full adult rate applies from age 18.
| Age | % of adult rate | Weekly on Level 1 | Hourly | Casual hourly (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 17 | 50% | $528.40 | $13.91 | $17.39 |
| 17 | 75% | $792.60 | $20.86 | $26.08 |
| 18 and over | 100% | $1,056.80 | $27.81 | $34.76 |
For how junior scales compare across awards and against the National Minimum Wage, see our junior pay rates guide.
Hair and Beauty Award Allowances
Fixed-dollar allowances in cl 20, operative from 1 July 2026. Each is paid only where the clause’s conditions are met.
| Allowance | Amount | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Manager's allowance (in charge of an establishment for a full week) | $55.96 per week | cl 20.2 |
| First aid allowance | $14.55 per week | cl 20.3 |
| Tool allowance (own scissors and tools required) | $10.52 per week | cl 20.8(a) |
| Meal allowance (overtime of more than one hour without 24 hours' notice)A further $24.72 where the overtime exceeds 4 hours (cl 20.5(b)). | $24.72 per occasion | cl 20.5(a) |
| Motor vehicle allowance | $1.00 per km | cl 20.6 |
| Broken Hill allowance | $47.90 per week | cl 20.4 |
Minimum Shifts and Hours
- Casuals must be engaged for at least 3 consecutive hours (cl 11.5).
- No more than 9 ordinary hours a day, except that one day a week can be 10.5 hours — two by written agreement (cl 14.7 to 14.9).
What does a hair and beauty award rate take home?
- Take-home on $27.81/hr (Level 1)
- Take-home on $28.45/hr (Level 2)
- Take-home on $29.45/hr (Level 3)
- Take-home on $30.00/hr (Level 4)
- Take-home on $32.00/hr (Level 6)
Working a mix of shifts? Enter your hours in the weekly pay calculator, or turn a salary into net pay with the take-home pay calculator.
What This Page Does Not Cover
These parts of the award carry rules or rates we have not verified line by line, so we publish no figures for them:
- Apprentice, pre-apprentice, trainee and graduate rates (cl 18, Tables 6 to 12)
- Classification definitions for Levels 1 to 6 (Schedule A) — we publish the rate for each level but not the duties that place an employee at that level
- National Training Wage (Schedule E of the Miscellaneous Award) trainee rates
An enterprise agreement, if one covers your workplace, replaces these award rates — though it must leave you better off overall.
When These Rates Took Effect
Applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, not universally 1 July. If your pay period began before 1 July 2026, the previous rate lawfully applies to that whole period and the rise starts with the next one. The award was varied by determination PR799286 following the Annual Wage Review 2026. If you have been paid below these rates, our backpay calculator works out what is owed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hair and Beauty Award questions and answers
What are the hair and beauty award pay rates for 2026-27?
Under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020 (MA000005), adult minimum rates run from $27.81 an hour ($1,056.80 a week) for Level 1 to $32.00 an hour ($1,215.90 a week) for Level 6. They apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.
What is the casual rate under the Hair and Beauty Award?
Casuals receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate, so Level 1 becomes $34.76 an hour. Casual penalty rates add the loading rather than multiplying by it — the casual column in the award is the permanent percentage plus 25 percentage points, except public holiday — any time of day (casual 250%).
What allowances are paid under the Hair and Beauty Award?
The award's allowances clause (cl 20) includes: manager's allowance (in charge of an establishment for a full week) $55.96 per week; first aid allowance $14.55 per week; tool allowance (own scissors and tools required) $10.52 per week; meal allowance (overtime of more than one hour without 24 hours' notice) $24.72 per occasion; motor vehicle allowance $1.00 per km. Allowances are paid on top of the classification rate when the employee meets the clause's conditions.
What are the junior rates under the Hair and Beauty Award?
Junior rates are a percentage of the adult rate for the classification (cl 17.2, Table 5): Under 17 50%, 17 75%. The full adult rate applies from age 18. They apply to every classification (apprentices are paid under cl 18 instead).
When did the new hair and beauty award rates start?
Applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, not universally 1 July. The MA000005 rates were varied by determination PR799286 following the Annual Wage Review 2026. If your pay period started before 1 July 2026, the old rate lawfully applies to that whole period.
How much does a hairdresser earn under the award?
A qualified hairdresser is typically classified at Level 3 or above: $29.45 an hour ($1,119.10 a week) at Level 3, $30.00 at Level 4, $30.89 at Level 5 and $32.00 at Level 6. Apprentice hairdressers are paid a percentage of the Level 3 rate under clause 18, which this page does not reproduce.
What are hair and beauty junior rates?
Under 17: 50% of the adult rate; 17: 75%; 18 and over: the full adult rate. At Level 1 that is $13.91 and $20.86 an hour — the award's own Schedule B figures.
Do salon workers get paid more for late nights?
Ordinary hours can only be worked 7.00 am to 9.00 pm on weekdays, 7.00 am to 6.00 pm on Saturday and 10.00 am to 5.00 pm on Sunday. Full-time and part-time employees working outside those hours are paid overtime. Casuals working before 7.00 am or after 9.00 pm on a weekday, or outside 7.00 am to 6.00 pm on a Saturday, are paid 150%.
Is there a tool allowance for hairdressers?
Yes. An employee required to provide their own tools, including scissors, is paid $10.52 a week, and must be reimbursed for any electrical equipment they have to buy.
How these rates were verified▼
Every figure comes from one constants file transcribed on 23 September 2026 from the Fair Work Commission’s consolidated MA000005 award text, which incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 July 2026 (PR799280, PR799286 and PR799444). Clause numbers are cited against each table. Hourly is the published weekly rate divided by 38; derived dollar figures are rounded half up to the cent.
Automated tests pin the published rates, check every hourly rate against its weekly rate, and assert the rules this award is most often modelled wrongly on — including that casual penalties add the loading rather than multiplying by it. Parts of the award we have not verified are listed as gaps rather than estimated.
Sources & References
- 1Consolidated award text — Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020 (MA000005)— Fair Work Commission
- 2Award summary and pay guide — MA000005— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Annual Wage Review 2026— Fair Work Commission
Last verified: 23 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
Areas of Expertise