Make-up artist job description

The core qualification is a Certificate II in Make-up Services, which places the employee at Level 2 under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award. Candidates also need working rights in Australia. Further beauty qualifications, such as a Certificate III or IV in Beauty Services, support progression to higher levels.

Mandatory requirements should include a Certificate II in Make-up Services and working rights in Australia. Preferred qualifications typically include further beauty qualifications, previous bridal or event experience, and a current first aid certificate for mobile and event work. Match the requirements to your service range so you don’t over-qualify the role and limit your candidate pool.

Yes. Many salons hire recently qualified make-up artists and build their experience on the job. Focus on the Certificate II in Make-up Services, a strong portfolio, hygiene awareness and client-care attitude. Clear job descriptions help candidates understand expectations and self-select appropriately.

Make-up artists can progress beyond Level 2 by gaining further beauty qualifications, such as a Certificate III or IV in Beauty Services, and by taking on broader responsibilities. Each step up the classification levels attracts higher award pay — see the Hair and Beauty Award pay rates guide for the current bands.

This depends on your business needs. Casual make-up artists offer flexibility for variable and seasonal demand but attract a 25% casual loading. Permanent part-time staff provide consistency for regular bookings and may have higher retention. Many salons use a mix — permanent staff for core hours and casuals for busy bridal and event periods.

Under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award (MA000005), Saturdays are paid at 133% for permanent staff (158% for casuals), Sundays at 200% (225% for casuals), and public holidays at 250%. Overtime is paid at 150% for the first hours and 200% thereafter. Use award interpretation software to calculate rates accurately.

Casual employees under MA000005 receive a 25% casual loading on top of the ordinary hourly rate in place of paid leave entitlements. This loading also affects weekend penalty rates — for example, casual Saturday work is paid at 158% and casual Sunday work at 225%. Use our shift cost calculator to estimate costs.

Key elements include position title and classification level, employment type (casual, part-time or full-time), hourly rate, applicable award (MA000005), reporting structure, main duties, work location and required qualifications. For casuals, include the casual loading percentage. Use our digital employment contracts to simplify this process.

Under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award, rosters should be provided in advance and changes generally require reasonable notice or employee agreement. Using rostering software helps ensure compliance and gives staff visibility of their upcoming shifts, including early-start bridal and event bookings.

Weekend and event work attracts penalty rates, so plan bridal and formal bookings carefully to balance client demand against labour cost. Our guide on how to roster hairdressing staff covers scheduling for beauty businesses, and rostering software makes it easy to apply the correct penalty rates automatically.

Under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award, employees are entitled to meal and rest breaks based on hours worked, with an unpaid meal break for longer shifts. Given the standing and close client contact involved, scheduling adequate breaks matters for wellbeing. Use rostering tools to ensure breaks are planned and compliant.

Collect availability preferences during onboarding and update them regularly, especially around peak wedding and event seasons. Use staff availability management tools to track when each artist can work. Set clear policies about minimum availability and how to request changes to simplify roster creation and reduce last-minute gaps.