Beauty Therapist
Also advertised as: Aesthetic Practitioner, Beauty Therapist, Massage Therapist, Mobile Beauty Therapist, Nail Technician, Salon Therapist
Provides treatments such as facials, waxing, nails and massage.
What the job involves
Beauty therapists deliver treatments safely and to a high standard while building client trust. Specialising in advanced treatments, aesthetics or massage increases earnings, and many therapists become self-employed or mobile.
Typical responsibilities
- Carry out consultations and patch tests
- Deliver facials, waxing, nail and massage treatments
- Advise on aftercare and retail products
- Maintain hygiene and treatment records
- Manage bookings and stock
Common employers
- Salons and spas
- Hotels
- Cruise ships
- Self-employed and mobile
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£18,000 – £23,000 a year
With experience
£24,000 – £35,000 a year
Typical hours
Salon hours including evenings and weekends
Working environment
Salon, spa or mobile
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Treatment technique
- Client consultation
- Hygiene standards
- Product knowledge
- Retail selling
Transferable skills you may already have
- Customer service
- Careful manual work
- Building client relationships
Requirements employers ask for
- Treatment technique
- Client consultation
- Hygiene standards
- Product knowledge
- Retail selling
- Level 2 or 3 Beauty Therapy
- Council treatment licences for some services
- Insurance
Useful but not essential
- Customer service
- Careful manual work
- Building client relationships
- Level 4 advanced or aesthetic qualifications
- Massage diplomas
Helpful qualifications
- Level 4 advanced or aesthetic qualifications
- Massage diplomas
Licences and checks
- Council treatment licences for some services
- Insurance
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Beauty Therapist (Level 2)
- Advanced Beauty Therapist (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Beauty therapy
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Therapist
next
Spa Manager
next
Salon Owner
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Clear self-employment route
- Advanced treatments raise income
- Rewarding client relationships
What people find hard
- Modest employed pay
- Physically repetitive
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a beauty therapist?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a beauty therapist earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £18,000 to £23,000 a year, rising towards £35,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Customer service, Careful manual work, Building client relationships.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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