Manicurists and Pedicurists: Job Description
Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.
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What Tasks Do Manicurists and Pedicurists Perform?
Typical responsibilities of 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
Successful manicurists and pedicurists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Manicurists and Pedicurists Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Fingernail Former
- Fingernail Sculptor
- Fingernail Sculpturer
- Fingernail Technician
- Licensed Nail Technician (Licensed Nail Tech)
- Manicurist
- Nail Artist
- Nail Technician (Nail Tech)
How Many Manicurists and Pedicurists Are There?
There are roughly 264,316 manicurists and pedicurists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +1.6% over the projection horizon.
Manicurists and Pedicurists Pay
| 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 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary 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
Pay 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 |
Top Metro Areas
| 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 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of manicurists and pedicurists work in 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 |
Manicurists and Pedicurists work in the following industries:
Software Manicurists and Pedicurists Use
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of manicurists and pedicurists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Physical Proximity
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level manicurists and pedicurists positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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)
Degree Programs
Future manicurists and pedicurists commonly pursue programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes 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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