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Manicurists and Pedicurists: Career Overview
Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.
What Do Manicurists and Pedicurists Do?
The core tasks performed by manicurists and pedicurists span:
- Clean and sanitize tools and work environment.
- Apply undercoat and clear or colored polish onto nails with brush.
- Maintain supply inventories and records of client services.
- Shape and smooth ends of nails, using scissors, files, or emery boards.
- Prepare nail cuticles with water and oil, using cuticle knives to push back cuticles and scissors or nippers to trim cuticles.
- Prepare customers' nails in soapy water, using swabs, files, and orange sticks.
- Remove previously applied nail polish, using liquid remover and swabs.
- Use rotary abrasive wheels to shape and smooth nails or artificial extensions.
Skills and Knowledge
Top manicurists and pedicurists combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Manicurists and Pedicurists Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Fingernail Former
- Fingernail Sculptor
- Fingernail Sculpturer
- Fingernail Technician
- Licensed Nail Technician (Licensed Nail Tech)
- Manicurist
- Nail Artist
- Nail Technician (Nail Tech)
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 264,316 manicurists and pedicurists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +1.6% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Manicurists and Pedicurists
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $29,229 |
| Hourly median | $14.05 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $23,940 |
| 75th percentile | $34,518 |
| 90th percentile | $39,807 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | $60,950 |
| Maine | $49,430 |
| Washington | $47,840 |
| District of Columbia | $47,120 |
| Alaska | $46,040 |
| New Mexico | $42,840 |
| Mississippi | $42,370 |
| South Dakota | $40,210 |
| Missouri | $38,950 |
| Iowa | $38,530 |
| Utah | $38,390 |
| Colorado | $37,800 |
| Virginia | $36,970 |
| Texas | $36,900 |
| Nebraska | $36,560 |
| Maryland | $36,380 |
| Rhode Island | $36,180 |
| Minnesota | $36,140 |
| West Virginia | $36,020 |
| Oregon | $35,970 |
| Ohio | $35,900 |
| Nevada | $35,340 |
| California | $35,000 |
| Michigan | $34,920 |
| Arizona | $34,820 |
| North Carolina | $34,810 |
| Illinois | $34,520 |
| Wisconsin | $34,180 |
| Massachusetts | $34,180 |
| Vermont | $33,520 |
| New York | $33,390 |
| Idaho | $33,260 |
| Indiana | $33,090 |
| Connecticut | $32,640 |
| Florida | $32,370 |
| New Hampshire | $31,720 |
| New Jersey | $31,470 |
| North Dakota | $30,920 |
| Kansas | $30,650 |
| Tennessee | $30,030 |
| Oklahoma | $29,560 |
| Hawaii | $29,120 |
| Louisiana | $29,100 |
| Delaware | $28,480 |
| Alabama | $27,980 |
| Arkansas | $27,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $27,480 |
| Georgia | $26,500 |
| South Carolina | $25,980 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,080 |
Where Manicurists and Pedicurists Earn the Most
Earnings for manicurists and pedicurists shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $37,680 | 3.4% | 1.20 |
| Far Western US | $36,659 | 31.8% | 2.03 |
| Plains States | $35,725 | 4.9% | 0.94 |
| Southwest | $35,647 | 5.1% | 0.52 |
| Great Lakes | $34,925 | 6.5% | 0.56 |
| New England | $33,763 | 7.7% | 1.93 |
| Southeast | $32,302 | 12.1% | 0.65 |
| Middle Atlantic | $31,749 | 28.4% | 2.05 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | KY | $62,400 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $49,580 | 3,730 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $49,430 | 150 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $46,470 | 50 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $46,180 | 160 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $46,080 | 230 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $46,050 | 110 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $45,770 | 290 |
Which Industries Hire Manicurists and Pedicurists
The largest employers of manicurists and pedicurists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 145,870 | $34,650 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 1,210 | $36,940 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 310 | $37,390 |
| Retail Trade | 220 | $29,850 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 130 | $43,710 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for manicurists and pedicurists reflects the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Physical Proximity
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Getting Started in This Career
Typical manicurists and pedicurists positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Barbers (Primary-Short)
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (Primary-Short)
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance (Primary-Long)
- Shampooers (Primary-Short)
- Skincare Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance (Supplemental)
- Foundry Mold and Coremakers (Supplemental)
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future manicurists and pedicurists commonly pursue programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-5092.00 (Manicurists and Pedicurists).
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