Dermal Therapist
A dermal therapist assesses and treats skin conditions using clinical and aesthetic techniques in a salon, clinic, or hospital setting.
What this job is
A dermal therapist assesses and treats skin conditions using clinical and aesthetic techniques in a salon, clinic, or hospital setting. They perform facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and other skincare treatments, and provide evidence-based advice on skin health and product use. The role requires understanding of skin pathology, therapeutic products, and client safety protocols.
Are employers advertising this role?
Falling, down 21.8% over 5 years
Counted across a group of similar roles. These are three-month rolling averages of online job advertisements, not filled positions.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index.
Day-to-day
Assess client skin conditions using visual and tactile examination to determine appropriate treatment options and identify contraindications. Perform professional facials including cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, massage, and application of therapeutic serums and masks. Administer chemical peels at varying strengths (superficial, medium, deep) following safety protocols and post-treatment care instructions. Operate microdermabrasion equipment to mechanically exfoliate and resurface skin for acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, and photoaged skin. Apply and monitor LED light therapy, radiofrequency, or microneedling treatments according to manufacturer guidelines and client tolerance. Develop customised skincare regimens and educate clients on product selection, application techniques, and sun protection. Maintain detailed client records documenting skin analysis, treatments performed, products used, and responses to therapy. Sterilise and sanitise treatment equipment, tools, and work surfaces according to infection control standards and salon protocols.
Who does this now
About 1,300 people worked in this occupation across Australia at the 2021 Census.
What this role asks for
Diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2)
Can employers fill these jobs
Employers hiring for this occupation had trouble finding suitable applicants in 2025. This measures how hard employers found it to fill jobs. It is not a count of jobs, and it does not say whether the occupation is growing.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Jobs and Skills Australia defines an occupation-ready qualification as:
Completing this qualification will provide the skills and knowledge to undertake this occupation. Further training and experience may be required to meet specific industry requirements including licensing and registration.
Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Requirements
The standard entry pathway requires a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.
The honest hard part
The earning ceiling is real. Most roles are salon-based with heavy reliance on client bookings and tips, meaning your income directly depends on having a full client roster. Many therapists earn modest wages unless they build a loyal following or move into management. You'll also deal with repetitive hand and arm strain from treatments, and managing difficult clients or handling skin reactions is part of the daily grind.
Where the jobs are
Regional centres have fewer positions. Most work is salon or clinic-based rather than remote. Hospital and medical clinic roles exist but are limited. The private beauty and wellness sector is overwhelmingly urban.
Pay
Published for ANZSCO unit group 4511, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.
This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.
Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
Skills
- Active Listeningcore
- Appointment Schedulingcore
- Attention to Detailcore
- Case Note Documentationcore
- Confidentiality and Privacy Compliancecore
- Continuous Learning and Upskillingcore
- Customer Needs Assessmentcore
- Empathy and Emotional Intelligencecore
- Health Terminology Literacycore
- HICAPS and Medicare Claiming Systemscore
- Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
- Practice Management Software (e.g., Best Practice, MedicalDirector)core
- Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
- Time Management and Prioritisationcore
- Verbal Communicationcore
- Administer appointments
- Advise customers on usage of cosmetics
- Complaint Handling
- Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
- Health Record Administration
- Incident Reporting
- Invoicing and Billing Administration
- Professional Boundaries Maintenance
- Risk Identification
- Team Collaboration
- Written Communication
Which of these do you have?
Tick the ones you haveCommon questions
Sources
- ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
- ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
- ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.
Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.
What Dermal Therapist workers move into, from ten years of tax records.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
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