Hairdresser
Cut, colour and style hair while helping clients choose hairstyles, treatments and products that suit their needs.
What They Do
Hairdressers provide professional cutting, colouring, styling and hair-care services for clients.
Their work can include consulting with clients, shampooing and conditioning hair, cutting with scissors or clippers, colouring and lightening hair, creating different styles and advising people on hair care and suitable products.
Hairdressers may also specialise in areas such as colour, extensions, bridal styling, textured hair or men's grooming. Maintaining clean work areas and sanitising equipment are also important parts of the job.
Who This Career Suits
Hairdressing suits people who enjoy creativity, practical work and interacting with people throughout the day.
Strong Hairdressers need good communication because understanding what a client actually wants is just as important as the technical work.
It also requires patience, attention to detail and physical stamina because Hairdressers spend much of the day standing and working with their hands.
Key Skills
Creativity, Communication, Practical Skills, Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Manual Dexterity, Relationship Management, Time Management
Work Environment
Salon, Indoor, Customer-Facing, Team-Based, Physical
Education & Training
The principal Australian vocational qualification is the SHB30416 Certificate III in Hairdressing.
The qualification develops the consultation, sales and technical skills needed to provide a broad range of professional hairdressing services. It includes training in cutting, colouring, chemical treatments, styling and salon services. Training.gov.au
There are no formal entry requirements for the qualification itself, although many people complete it as part of a workplace apprenticeship or traineeship.
A Certificate IV in Hairdressing is also available for experienced Hairdressers who want to develop more advanced technical skills.
Career Changer Pathway
Hairdressing can be relatively accessible to career changers.
People from retail, hospitality, beauty services, customer service and other people-focused careers may already possess valuable communication and relationship skills.
Someone entering from another field can complete vocational training while developing practical salon experience.
Early Career
Apprentices and newly qualified Hairdressers develop confidence in consultations, cutting, colouring, styling and salon operations.
They commonly begin by supporting more experienced stylists and gradually build their own regular client base.
Mid Career
Experienced Hairdressers manage their own clients and increasingly develop a personal reputation and specialisation.
They may become particularly skilled in areas such as colour correction, blonding, extensions, bridal styling, textured hair or precision cutting.
Senior / Veteran Career
Experienced Hairdressers can progress into Senior Stylist, Salon Manager, Educator or Creative Director roles.
Others establish their own salons, rent chairs independently, operate mobile services or build specialist freelance businesses.
Experienced professionals may also work in fashion, television, film, education or product companies.
Salary Guide
Early Career
55000
Mid Career
70000
Senior / Veteran
90000
Indicative annual salary (AUD)
Indicative annual salary (AUD)
Indicative annual salary (AUD)
Salary data source:
Jobs and Skills Australia / ABS
Salary data source URL:
Date :
6 October 2026 at 12:00:00 am
Career Outlook
JSA currently records approximately 65,400 Hairdressers, with annual employment growth of around 500 workers. The median age is 36 and approximately 76% of the workforce is female. Jobs and Skills Australia
More importantly, JSA's 2025 shortage analysis identifies Hairdressers among large occupations experiencing a retention gap—meaning employers have difficulty maintaining enough suitably skilled workers in the occupation. Hairdresser was also identified as being in shortage in previous national shortage analysis.
Job Outlook :
Outlook Source :
Strong
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