Vocational.uk The route, drawn out

Hair, Beauty & Wellbeing

Beauty Therapist

Deliver facials, treatments and therapies in salons, spas and your own business.

Steady demand Can go self-employed Level 2 apprenticeship
Typical pay once qualified
£21,000 – £34,000
Training length
1.5 years
Apprenticeship standard
Beauty therapist
Where to train
170 providers listed

The route, drawn out

DWG 438C · 5 stops · 1.5 years to qualify
  1. Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
  2. Year 2 Training continues, pay rises min. £21.2k+
  3. 1.5 years Fully qualified around £21k
  4. +3–5 years Experienced up to £34k
  5. Then Your own business you set the rate

The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.

What the job is

Beauty therapy covers skincare, waxing, lashes, nails, massage and increasingly advanced treatments. You learn anatomy and contraindications alongside technique, because you are working on people's skin and health.

Salons, spas, hotels and cruise ships all employ therapists, and self-employment — mobile, home salon or rented room — is extremely common. Adding advanced qualifications later is where the real earnings sit.

A typical day

  • Consult clients and check contraindications before treatment
  • Perform facials, waxing, lash and brow treatments
  • Deliver massage and body treatments where qualified
  • Maintain strict hygiene and infection control
  • Recommend aftercare and retail products honestly

How you get in

  • No formal qualifications required for most level 2 apprenticeships
  • You must be comfortable with close physical contact
  • Calm, unhurried manner and good hygiene discipline
  • Some treatments have a minimum age requirement

Where it leads

  • Level 3 beauty therapy, including massage and electrical treatments
  • Advanced aesthetics, lashes or nails specialisms
  • Spa therapist or spa supervisor roles
  • Self-employed or your own salon

Where to train for this

170 colleges and training providers on our list cover Beauty Therapist training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.

East Midlands 10
East of England 13
London 21
North East 4
North West 15
South East 23
South West 17
UK-wide 4
West Midlands 15
Yorkshire and the Humber 11
East Scotland 6
North Scotland 3
West Scotland 8
North Wales 2
South Wales 8
West Wales 2
Northern Ireland 5
Channel Islands 2
Isle of Man 1

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