What You Need to Know About Manicurist or Pedicurist
Example of Manicurist or Pedicurist Job Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.
What Do Manicurists and Pedicurists Do On a Daily Basis?
- Prepare nail cuticles with water and oil, using cuticle knives to push back cuticles and scissors or nippers to trim cuticles.
- Maintain supply inventories and records of client services.
- Prepare customers' nails in soapy water, using swabs, files, and orange sticks.
- Roughen surfaces of fingernails, using abrasive wheel.
- Remove previously applied nail polish, using liquid remover and swabs.
- Whiten underside of nails with white paste or pencils.
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Manicurist or Pedicurist Required Skills
These are the skills Manicurists and Pedicurists say are the most useful in their careers:
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Fingernail Technician
- Fingernail Former
- Nail Technician
- Salon Manager
- Nail Artist
Job Opportunities for Manicurists and Pedicurists
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 126,300 jobs in the United States for Manicurist or Pedicurist. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 13.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,700 new jobs for Manicurist or Pedicurist by 2026. There will be an estimated 16,600 positions for Manicurist or Pedicurist per year.

The states with the most job growth for Manicurist or Pedicurist are Washington, New Jersey, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Maine, or Kentucky. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Manicurist or Pedicurist Salary
The typical yearly salary for Manicurists and Pedicurists is somewhere between $19,700 and $33,490.

Manicurists and Pedicurists who work in New Hampshire, Montana, or Wisconsin, make the highest salaries.
How much do Manicurists and Pedicurists make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $24,500 |
Alaska | $24,670 |
Arizona | $26,640 |
Arkansas | $29,970 |
California | $26,260 |
Colorado | $30,180 |
Connecticut | $24,910 |
Delaware | $24,900 |
District of Columbia | $32,400 |
Florida | $27,170 |
Georgia | $30,430 |
Hawaii | $28,360 |
Idaho | $32,870 |
Illinois | $23,740 |
Indiana | $27,000 |
Iowa | $34,010 |
Kansas | $25,190 |
Kentucky | $26,660 |
Louisiana | $22,040 |
Maine | $23,540 |
Maryland | $24,670 |
Massachusetts | $27,570 |
Michigan | $27,350 |
Minnesota | $37,170 |
Mississippi | $24,140 |
Missouri | $25,150 |
Montana | $29,880 |
Nebraska | $24,480 |
Nevada | $22,900 |
New Hampshire | $34,160 |
New Jersey | $24,520 |
New York | $24,970 |
North Carolina | $23,680 |
North Dakota | $29,910 |
Ohio | $26,290 |
Oklahoma | $24,360 |
Oregon | $27,440 |
Pennsylvania | $21,230 |
Rhode Island | $25,420 |
South Carolina | $32,490 |
Tennessee | $24,350 |
Texas | $24,190 |
Utah | $27,550 |
Virginia | $24,050 |
Washington | $31,460 |
West Virginia | $22,120 |
Wisconsin | $29,670 |
Wyoming | $22,100 |
What Tools do Manicurists and Pedicurists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Manicurists and Pedicurists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Customer information databases
- Appointment-Plus
- DaySmart Software Salon Iris
How do I Become a Manicurist or Pedicurist?
Learn what Manicurist or Pedicurist education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Manicurist or Pedicurist?

Where Manicurists and Pedicurists Work

Below are examples of industries where Manicurists and Pedicurists work:

References:
Image Credit: Tiffany Bumgardner via Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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