Beauty Therapist Job Description
Hire a skilled Beauty Therapist to deliver professional treatments, build repeat client relationships and support retail sales in your salon or spa.
What does a Beauty Therapist professional do?
A Beauty Therapist performs beauty treatments, advises clients on homecare and product use, maintains treatment rooms and helps meet commercial targets through retail and upselling.
Beauty Therapist job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Beauty Therapist
About the role
[Salon/ Spa name] is looking for a qualified Beauty Therapist to join our team in [Location]. You will provide a range of treatments such as facials, waxing, nail and massage therapies, deliver excellent customer service, maintain high hygiene standards and help drive retail sales. This role is [Full-time/Part-time], with some weekend or evening shifts. Salary/Pay: [insert details].
Key responsibilities
- Deliver a variety of beauty treatments to a high standard (e.g. facials, body therapies, waxing, manicure/pedicure, basic massage) according to salon protocols.
- Consult with clients to assess skin type, medical history and treatment suitability; produce treatment plans and recommend aftercare.
- Maintain cleanliness and hygiene of treatment rooms, equipment and stock, following COSHH and infection-control guidance.
- Sell salon retail products and advise clients on homecare to support repeat business and meet sales targets.
- Manage appointment schedules, cancellations and client records using salon booking software or manual systems.
- Ensure accurate handling of payments, gift vouchers and retail transactions.
- Complete required treatment and safety documentation and report any client concerns or incidents to management.
- Attend team meetings and participate in training to keep skills and product knowledge up to date.
Essential skills and experience
- Recognised qualification in beauty therapy (e.g. Level 2 or equivalent) or completed apprenticeship in beauty therapy.
- Practical salon experience delivering common treatments (minimum 6–12 months preferred).
- Strong customer-service and communication skills; ability to put clients at ease and build rapport.
- Good standard of personal presentation and professional conduct.
- Basic numeracy and experience handling sales transactions.
- Right to work in the UK and ability to work required shifts (including some evenings/weekends if applicable).
Desirable
- Advanced qualification or Level 3 in beauty therapy or specialised training certificates (e.g. advanced facial techniques, massage, lash/lift, brow lamination).
- Manufacturer training or certification for electrical or advanced aesthetic devices (e.g. microdermabrasion, radiofrequency, IPL) where offered.
- Experience with salon booking/EPOS systems and client record-keeping software.
- Retail sales experience with measurable results.
- First aid training or additional health-and-safety certifications.
What we offer
- [Pension scheme]
- [Staff discount on treatments and retail products]
- [Paid training and professional development]
- [Holiday allowance: X days per year (pro rata)]
- [Uniform provided or uniform allowance]
- [Company sick pay or absence policy]
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Beauty Therapist role?
A Beauty Therapist provides non-medical cosmetic and relaxation treatments in salons, spas, hotels or mobile settings. They assess clients, deliver treatments such as facials, waxing, nail and body therapies, and advise on retail products and aftercare. The role combines hands‑on technical skills with strong customer service and commercial awareness to support client retention and salon revenue.
Typical hours
Shift patterns often include evenings and weekend work; roles are commonly full-time, part-time or zero-hours.
Workplace
Salons, day spas, hotel spas, mobile/home visits or beauty clinics.
Clients
Public-facing role working with individual clients across a broad age range and diverse needs.
Progression
Progress to senior therapist, specialist treatments, management or move into training and education.
Typical Beauty Therapist responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Deliver a variety of beauty treatments
Deliver a variety of beauty treatments to a high standard (e.g. facials, body therapies, waxing, manicure/pedicure, basic massage) according to salon protocols.
Consult with clients
Consult with clients to assess skin type, medical history and treatment suitability; produce treatment plans and recommend aftercare.
Maintain cleanliness
Maintain cleanliness and hygiene of treatment rooms, equipment and stock, following COSHH and infection-control guidance.
Sell salon retail products
Sell salon retail products and advise clients on homecare to support repeat business and meet sales targets.
Manage appointment schedules
Manage appointment schedules, cancellations and client records using salon booking software or manual systems.
Ensure accurate handling of payments
Ensure accurate handling of payments, gift vouchers and retail transactions.
Complete required treatment
Complete required treatment and safety documentation and report any client concerns or incidents to management.
Attend team meetings
Attend team meetings and participate in training to keep skills and product knowledge up to date.
Beauty Therapist skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Recognised qualification in beauty therapy (e.g. Level 2 or equivalent) or completed apprenticeship in beauty therapy.
- Practical salon experience delivering common treatments (minimum 6–12 months preferred).
- Strong customer-service and communication skills; ability to put clients at ease and build rapport.
- Good standard of personal presentation and professional conduct.
- Basic numeracy and experience handling sales transactions.
- Right to work in the UK and ability to work required shifts (including some evenings/weekends if applicable).
Useful where relevant
- Advanced qualification or Level 3 in beauty therapy or specialised training certificates (e.g. advanced facial techniques, massage, lash/lift, brow lamination).
- Manufacturer training or certification for electrical or advanced aesthetic devices (e.g. microdermabrasion, radiofrequency, IPL) where offered.
- Experience with salon booking/EPOS systems and client record-keeping software.
- Retail sales experience with measurable results.
- First aid training or additional health-and-safety certifications.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Beauty Therapist job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
List core treatments clearly
Specify which treatments are routinely expected (e.g. waxing, facials, nails) so applicants understand the day-to-day role.
Be explicit about working pattern
State expected shifts, weekend requirements and whether the role is permanent, part-time or flexible to avoid unsuitable applications.
State essential qualifications and training
If you require a specific qualification or manufacturer certificate, list it as essential or desirable so candidates can self-assess eligibility.
Include commercial expectations
Mention retail targets, commission structures or sales responsibilities so applicants know business responsibilities alongside treatments.
Describe training and progression
Highlight available training, in-house support and promotion routes to attract candidates looking to grow their skills.
Beauty Therapist salary considerations
Do not quote a universal market rate. Pay for Beauty Therapists varies widely depending on salon type, location, experience, the mix of treatments offered and whether commission, tips or service charge are included.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Beauty Therapist candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
How is pay structured?
Candidates will want to know base pay, commission rates, how tips are handled and pay frequency.
What are the typical working hours and rota?
Be ready to explain shift patterns, weekend and evening expectations and holiday cover arrangements.
What training and development do you provide?
Applicants will ask about induction, manufacturer training, CPD and routes to senior roles.
What is the client base and booking pattern?
Experienced therapists want to know appointment length, daily client numbers and typical treatment mix.
Which products and equipment are used?
Candidates may need to know brands, devices and whether you provide training or expect prior experience.
Do you require specific certificates?
Clarify whether certain qualifications or manufacturer certificates are essential or can be acquired after hire.
Where to post a Beauty Therapist job
Beauty Therapist vacancies recruit well through a mix of local and sector channels. Use national and regional job boards for volume, specialist beauty and spa job sites for targeted candidates, plus vocational college job boards and apprenticeships to attract newly qualified therapists. Social channels such as Instagram and trade groups on professional networks help showcase salon culture and practical visuals to candidates.
Related wellness & beauty job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Beauty Therapist job description FAQs
Is a formal qualification required to work as a Beauty Therapist?
Many employers expect a recognised beauty therapy qualification (commonly Level 2 or equivalent) or a completed apprenticeship, but some entry-level or trainee roles accept recent learners with relevant practical experience. State your requirement clearly in the advert.
How should we assess practical skills at interview?
Request a short practical assessment or ask for a portfolio of work and client references. Observing a demonstration or trial treatment is the most reliable way to assess technique and client rapport.
Should we mention commission and tips in the advert?
Yes — being transparent about commission structure and how tips are distributed attracts experienced candidates and reduces later misunderstandings.
What checks should employers perform?
Verify qualifications and any manufacturer certificates, check right to work, and follow your standard recruitment checks. DBS checks are not routinely required for beauty therapists unless your workplace policy or client base specifically requires them.
How do we make the role attractive to top candidates?
Offer clear training and progression, competitive pay with commission, staff benefits such as discounted treatments, and flexible hours where possible; detail these benefits in the advert.
Ready to hire a Beauty Therapist?
Use this template to create a clear, realistic vacancy that attracts qualified therapists. Provide treatment and rota details, list essential qualifications, and highlight training and benefits to improve candidate quality and retention.
