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5 of the Highest Paying Beauty Industry Jobs
Looking to build a *very* successful career in the beauty industry? We got you. It can be difficult to know where to start, but we’ve put in the work to find some well-paying and exciting jobs perfect for a huge range of graduates, whatever you study.
1. Cosmetic Scientist
How much does a Cosmetic Scientist earn?
With experience, you’re looking at well over £50,000 a year.
What does a Cosmetic Scientist do?
Essentially, they’re the builders of beauty products. Blending chemistry, maths and logic with creativity and art, responsibilities of a cosmetic scientist include:
Creating formulas: You could be creating the next sell-out eyeshadow palette or revolutionary moisturiser! As a cosmetic scientist, you’ll likely be formulating products, selecting ingredients, and ensuring they’re safe for use
Maintaining quality: From microbiological testing to stability assessments, science = top quality, safe skincare and cosmetics
Driving innovation: As you’ll probs know already, beauty trends are constantly evolving. As a cosmetic scientist, you’ll identify new, innovative ingredients and tech to create the Next Big Thing and stay ahead of the trends.
How to become a Cosmetic Scientist
It goes without saying that you’ll need to be a real science-lover for this one. And who says you can’t be a STEM graduate and a beauty expert?!
Get the degree you deserve: Having a bachelor’s in chemistry, chemical engineering or biology will be useful for getting into the beauty lab.
Step up your skills: After graduating, look for entry level roles like lab techs, research assistants, administrators… anything science-y will do. You just need experience under your tool belt (or makeup bag).
Select a speciality: We’re talking skincare, haircare, fragrance, product development, cosmetics… what really makes you tick?
2. Business Analyst Manager
How much does a Business Analyst Manager earn?
What does a Business Analyst Manager do?
Simply put, business analysts work out which areas of a company can be improved to increase efficiency. As a business analyst, your day-to-day tasks could include:
Improving processes by researching, training others and analysing data.
Implementing new systems by exploring solutions, their risks, benefits and the impacts on the business.
How to become a Business Analyst Manager
First and foremost, a love of numbers! A bachelor’s degree in business, finance or maths will really set you up for success when it comes to analysing all that data. Plus, communication and interpersonal skills are a must, as well as numerical and analytical expertise (duh!)

Give yourself a leg up with courses and certifications to boost your skills as a beauty business analyst. With Udemy’s student discounts, you can bag a Business Analyst Certification, or discover the Fundamentals of Business Analysis. This will really help you stand out when applying for that all-important first role in the industry.
3. Beauty Influencer
How much does a Beauty Influencer earn?
An average of £137,000 a year in the UK, according to
a study by Adobe
.
What does a Beauty Influencer do?
More often than not, a beauty influencer will provide tips and tricks for creating looks, as well as recommending unique and on-trend products. 

To put it simply, a beauty influencer is a social media content creator (someone who makes original posts on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube etc). They’re well-known for their beauty skills—whether that’s makeup, nails, simple skincare, grooming, or just simply providing pure entertainment.
How to become a Beauty Influencer:
Unlike the rest of this list, a degree and certifications aren’t the way into beauty influencing.  It’s all about beauty knowledge, entertainment, building a brand and confidence in spades! A good understanding of social media marketing is sure to give you a headstart, though. 

As a student, you can learn all about social media marketing and going viral with 1 month free of Skillshare. Or, bag a 10% student discount on MasterClass to learn from legends like Bobbi Brown and Jen Atkin.
4. Computer Vision Engineer
How much does a Computer Vision Engineer earn?
Fancy filling your purse with £75,690? That’s what you can earn as a computer vision engineer!
What does a Computer Vision Engineer do?
Think technology and beauty don't mix? Think again—‘cos the beauty world is getting a facelift in the form of Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, and the Metaverse! From virtually trying on make-up, to AI-products and augmented reality apps, beauty and tech have never been closer. Have you seen the recent AI campaigns from Maybelline? This is just one example of the type of things you could be developing:
How to become a Computer Vision Engineer
Get your code on! Computer science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, applied mathematics… these are just a few of the degrees and certifications you should look into before stepping into a career as a Computer Vision Engineer in the beauty sphere.
5. Marketing Director
How much does a beauty Marketing Director earn?
As a Marketing Director, you can earn an average of £93,772 a year.
What does a beauty Marketing Director do?
To sum it up, a marketing director aims to build world-class, iconic brands. Think all of the things that bring attention to a brand and its beauty products: advertising, cool events, social media campaigns and in-store signage are just a few of the more creative things to get stuck into. The best part about this career is that it’s super flexible to other industries, too. A few other responsibilities include:
Identifying insights with product and market research. That way, you’ll be able to create original ideas and boost your brand’s credibility.
Deliver campaigns that drive sales, awareness and trust in your brand.
How to become a beauty Marketing Director
You might think you’d need a degree in marketing, but anything similar will do—think English, business, communications or even finance. The door to a marketing career is open to a huge variety of degrees, experience is what matters the most here.
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