Overview
Beauticians are trained professionals who use their knowledge and skills to provide a range of different beauty treatments and therapies. These treatments can include massages, facial treatments, hair removal, nail services, spray tans, eyebrow shaping and semi-permanent tattoos, as well as non-surgical therapies and makeup.
Duties and responsibilities
- Diagnose and advise clients on the best therapies to suit their skin type
- Answer telephone calls, schedule appointments and manage the booking system
- Carry out treatments with the utmost discretion
- Handle payments and create receipts for clients
- Upsell products based on the client’s needs and interests
- Incorporate new machinery into treatments
- Provide advice on skincare and makeup techniques
- Clean and sterilise any tools before and after treatments
Skills and knowledge
Working conditions
AVERAGE WORKING HOURS
40hweek
TYPICAL SCHEDULE
Fixed
On a rota
Most beauticians work in salons or hotel spas. Others are self-employed and work from their own premises.
As a beautician, you’ll be expected to work long hours to accommodate your clients’ schedules and be available to work on Saturdays. You may also choose to provide mobile services in your free time, travelling to and from clients’ houses.
The work can be tiresome, as you’ll spend a lot of time working your muscles and standing on your feet.
Salary prospects
BOTTOM 10%
$18k
MEDIAN
$25k
TOP 10%
$50k
Annual salary estimates are based on percentile wage data collected through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey of US workers.
Entry requirements
EDUCATION LEVEL
High school
Beautician traning
TRAINING TIME
3–8months
To become a beautician, you must complete a beauty and cosmetology qualification at an accredited college, which can take up to a year to complete. While there are now online courses, it’s best to get training from an experienced teacher who will also supervise you during your first attempts at carrying out a treatment.
If you decide that you want to open your own salon in the future, it will be beneficial to incorporate a business course with your studies. You can choose to do this online or at your registered college.
Job outlook
PROJECTED GROWTH
13%
NEW JOBS
80.1k
AUTOMATION RISK
0.11%
Career advancement
Many beauticians progress to set up their own beauty parlours or work on a freelance basis. Others choose to move into education and teach aspiring beauticians how to perform certain treatments.
You could also specialise in one particular area of beauty and enhance your knowledge by offering unique packages. For example, if you enjoy working on eyebrows, you could learn how to microblade and offer semi-permanent options. Additional training is required for specialisation, which will only involve one- or two-day training seminars.