How much can an independent hairdresser earn in Australia? (updated for 2025)

In 2025 in Australia, 70% of hairdressers are now working as independent professionals.

Transitioning to freelance/independent work not only offers professional freedom but also raises questions about potential earnings. If you're considering this path, it's essential to understand the financial details. Let's take a look at how much a freelance hairdresser can earn in Australia.

In 2025, a full time independent hairdresser can generate $250,000 per year (excl. GST) in service revenue in Australia ($4,800 per week).

However, this is just the beginning of the financial story. Let's delve into the essential expenses to get a clearer picture:

Once the hairdresser has generated $250,000, they must pay for their products, which should cost around $25,000 (excl. GST).

Next comes the rent. Most independent hairdressers choose chair or suite rental and in average it costs them around $25,000 per year.

Finally, admin and marketing expenses could represent around $10,000 per year.

After deducting these expenses, there's $190,000 left.

Now, they also need to consider their financial obligations, such as contributions to superannuation (the mandatory retirement scheme in Australia) and their own salary. In this case it would be realistic to contribute $23,000 out of $190,000 to the superannuation (around 12%).

After deducting product costs, salon rent, and superannuation contributions, there would be $167,000 left. This amount needs to cover the hairdresser's salary.

Depending on their needs and lifestyle, the hairdresser can decide on the annual salary they pay themselves from this sum and keep the rest to be reinvested in the business or kept as cash reserve.

These figures are general estimates and can vary depending on the region, the hairdresser's experience, service demand, and local living costs. Some independent hairdressers can earn more if they offer high-value specialised services and have a loyal client base. Some can obviously generate less if they work part time or focus services with a lower value. There are also challenges such as competition and demand fluctuations.

Ultimately, financial success as a freelance hairdresser in Australia relies on skilfully managing income and expenses, maintaining high professional standards, and building strong client relationships. With careful planning and hard work, it's entirely possible to thrive in this rapidly expanding sector and make very good money while being your own boss and have a lot of free time on the side.

It's also very important to choose the right salon to work from as a professional environment and the right location can have a big impact on revenue.

MuseAvenue is the dedicated marketplace in Australia for salon chair rental. With hundreds of salons across major cities in the country, independent hairdressers can find the perfect space for them and pay their rent seamlessly through the platform with no upfront cost and no commitment.