State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Manicurist and Pedicurist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Manicurists and Pedicurists earn a median of $35,760 per year ($17.19/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 7.0% through 2034, with about 24,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
SOC 39-5092Personal Care and ServiceLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $35,760
- Projected growth
- +7.0%
- Openings a year
- 24,800
- Typical education
- Certificate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Manicurist, Nail Technician (Nail Tech), Pedicurist.
How much do Manicurists and Pedicurists make?
10th percentile$28,920
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$34,010
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$35,760
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$41,650
Upper quartile
90th percentile$50,140
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $35,760 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $17.19/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $38,570 |
| People employed | 152,770 |
Versus all US occupations
At $35,760, Manicurists and Pedicurists earn 30% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $15,220 a year.
Versus personal care and service occupations
Inside the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120, this is 6% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $50,140 or more while the bottom 10% earn $28,920, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 4% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Hawaii posts the highest raw median ($60,790), but once local prices are taken into account Nebraska leads at $63,194 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Manicurists and Pedicurists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $60,790 | $55,288 | 40 |
| Nebraska | $56,940 | $63,194 | 310 |
| Washington | $49,900 | $46,630 | 5,570 |
| Maine | $48,540 | $50,015 | 200 |
| Alaska | $47,890 | $46,786 | 180 |
| Oregon | $46,080 | $44,582 | 2,210 |
| Iowa | $45,420 | $51,754 | 190 |
| Kentucky | $45,310 | $50,256 | 240 |
| South Dakota | $45,310 | $51,148 | 250 |
| Nevada | $41,880 | $41,889 | 1,020 |
Is Manicurist and Pedicurist a growing career?
Manicurists and Pedicurists7.0%
All US occupations3.1%
+7.0% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Manicurists and Pedicurists to change 7.0% over 2024–2034, roughly 2.3× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 14,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 24,800 openings are projected each year, 11.8% of the 210,100 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The projected increase in employment reflects demand for nail services, such as mini-sessions (quick manicures at a low cost) and mobile manicures and pedicures (nail services offered outside of the salon).
The desire among many women and a growing number of men to lead a healthier lifestyle through better grooming and wellness is expected to result in higher employment for manicurists and pedicurists.
Considered a low-cost luxury service, manicures and pedicures will continue to be in demand by individuals at all income levels.
How to become a Manicurist and Pedicurist
Nail technicians are licensed or registered in every state we could identify, and the training-hour requirement is set state by state and varies more than in almost any other occupation: from 12 hours in Alaska to 750 in Alabama. A nail technician licence and a full cosmetology licence are different credentials. In most states the cosmetology licence already covers nail services, which makes the nail licence the faster and cheaper route rather than a narrower prerequisite, but Connecticut and Oregon are exceptions where it does not.
The credential path, step by step
- Find your state's hour requirement before you enrol anywhere
This single number drives the cost and length of the whole path and it is not close to uniform. Verified figures: Alaska 12, Connecticut 100, Massachusetts 100, Virginia 150, Florida 180, Ohio 200, Pennsylvania 200, Oregon 241 (281 including law and career development hours), New York 250, North Carolina 300, Iowa 325, Illinois 350, Louisiana 500, Georgia 525, Texas 600, Nevada 600, Washington 600, Oklahoma 600, Alabama 750. Alaska also offers an optional 250-hour advanced endorsement, but the 12-hour licence already permits full manicuring and pedicuring services.
- Check the age and schooling minimum, which is lower than people assume
Minimum age is 16 in Alabama, Ohio, Illinois and Florida, 17 in New York, Texas, Washington and California, and 18 in Nevada. Education minimums run from 8th grade in Oklahoma and 9th in Connecticut to 10th grade in California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Alabama and Louisiana. No state we checked requires a high school diploma for a nail technician licence; where a diploma or GED does appear in the rules, it attaches to instructor licences.
- Decide between a nail technician programme and a full cosmetology programme
In most states the cosmetology licence covers nails by statute. Florida defines cosmetology to include manicures and pedicures, California's Business and Professions Code section 7316 includes manicuring nails and treating hands and feet, New York's definition folds in the nail specialty, and Texas lists nail treatments in the cosmetology operator scope. Two states break that pattern: Connecticut expressly excludes actions performed on the nails of the hands or feet from its hairdressing and cosmetology definition, so a Connecticut hairdresser needs a separate nail licence; and Oregon issues no umbrella cosmetology certificate at all, only separate fields of practice.
- Complete a state-approved programme
Schools must be approved by the state board, and hours generally do not transfer between school and apprenticeship routes where both exist. Alaska is unusual in the other direction: its statute forbids schools from requiring more than the 12 hours the licence needs.
- Pass whatever examination your state actually uses, if it uses one
The National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology develops theory, practical and written practical examinations but does not administer them; test administration companies and state boards deliver them. Do not assume a written plus hands-on pair. California uses PSI's own written examination and has eliminated the practical entirely. Florida's nail specialist credential is a registration with no state examination, and Connecticut requires no board examination for its nail technician licence.
- Apply to the board and keep the licence current
Renewal cycles are typically two years, though New York issues a four-year term. Continuing education is required in some states and not others, so this is worth checking at the point of first renewal rather than assuming.
Exams you have to pass
NIC Nail Technology Theory Examination
110 items of which 100 are scored, in 90 minutes. NIC also publishes a Written Practical examination, a computer-based substitute for the hands-on exam, which exists for only four disciplines: Barber Styling, Cosmetology, Esthetics and Nail Technology.
Administered by Developed by the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology; administered by testing companies or state boards.
California manicurist written examination
60 scored items plus 10 pretest items in 90 minutes. California candidates need only pass the written examination; the state no longer administers a practical.
Administered by PSI, for the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
- How long the training takes
From 12 hours in Alaska to 750 in Alabama. Concrete midpoints: Connecticut and Massachusetts 100, Virginia 150, Florida 180, Ohio and Pennsylvania 200, Oregon 241, New York 250, North Carolina 300, Iowa 325, Illinois 350, Louisiana 500, Georgia 525, and Texas, Nevada, Washington and Oklahoma 600.
- Continuing education
Set by each state
Set by the state, and several states require none. Texas requires 4 hours every two years, including 1 hour of sanitation and 1 hour of human trafficking awareness. Illinois requires 10 hours per two-year cycle for nail technicians, with none due at first renewal. Florida caps continuing education at 10 hours biennially and, since 1 July 2024, exempts licensees with 10 or more continuous years and no discipline. Ohio requires 4 hours and Georgia 5. California states outright that it requires no continuing education to maintain a licence, and Connecticut's nail technician renewal carries no continuing education condition.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
Everything of consequence here is set by the state: the number of training hours, whether the credential is a licence or a registration, whether there is an examination at all, and whether a cosmetology licence lets you work on nails. Connecticut is worth calling out because most sources still describe it as the state with no nail licence: its nail technician statute was repealed in 2001, but a new one took effect on 1 January 2021 requiring not less than 100 hours of study, a $100 fee and biennial renewal, with no board examination. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact, which would eventually allow multistate practice, has been enacted in 12 states (Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia) but the compact commission states plainly that licensees in member states cannot yet practise through it.
Who governs the credential
- National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) — Develops the theory, practical and written practical examinations that many state boards adopt. It does not administer them and does not license anyone.
- California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology — Licenses manicurists in California, with a written-only examination delivered by PSI and no continuing education requirement for renewal.
- Connecticut Department of Public Health — Licenses Connecticut nail technicians under a statute effective 1 January 2021: not less than 100 hours of study, a $100 fee, biennial renewal and no state examination.
- Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission — Stands up the interstate compact for cosmetology licences. Twelve states have enacted it, but the commission states that licensees cannot yet practise through the compact.
Credential detail for manicurist and pedicurists is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists · checked August 23, 2026
- Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing: Board of Barbers and Hairdressers FAQs · checked August 23, 2026
- Connecticut General Statutes chapter 387 (nail technician licensure, CGS 20-265d and 20-250) · checked August 23, 2026
- Connecticut Department of Public Health: Nail technician licensing requirements · checked August 23, 2026
- Massachusetts 240 CMR 2, Licensure of cosmetologists, manicurists, aestheticians and instructors · checked August 23, 2026
- Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC41-20-200 (nail technician training) · checked August 23, 2026
- Florida DBPR Board of Cosmetology FAQs (nail specialist registration) · checked August 23, 2026
- Florida Statutes 477.013, definitions of cosmetology · checked August 23, 2026
- Ohio Revised Code 4713.28 (licence requirements and training hours) · checked August 23, 2026
- Pennsylvania Department of State: Nail technician licensure snapshot · checked August 23, 2026
- Oregon Health Authority Health Licensing Office: Nail technology certificate · checked August 23, 2026
- New York Department of State: Get a nail specialty licence · checked August 23, 2026
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: Nail technician · checked August 23, 2026
- Georgia Rules and Regulations 240-17-.02 (nail technician curriculum) · checked August 23, 2026
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: Apply for a manicurist licence · checked August 23, 2026
- Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering: Licence types · checked August 23, 2026
- California Business and Professions Code section 7316 (scope of cosmetology) · checked August 23, 2026
- California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology: Applicants and examinations · checked August 23, 2026
- California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology FAQs (no continuing education requirement) · checked August 23, 2026
- NIC: Examination types · checked August 23, 2026
- Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology: NIC Nail Technology candidate information bulletin · checked August 23, 2026
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: Continuing education for barbering and cosmetology · checked August 23, 2026
- Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission: Delaware becomes 12th state to enact the compact · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Manicurists and pedicurists must complete a state-approved cosmetology or nail technician program and then pass a state exam for licensure.
| Typical entry-level education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Little or no preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as manicurists and pedicurists.
- High School Diploma49.2%
- Less than a High School Diploma35.8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate14.8%
- Some College Courses0.3%
What does a Manicurist and Pedicurist do?
Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.
Manicurists and pedicurists clean, shape, and beautify fingernails and toenails.
Day-to-day tasks
- Clean and sanitize tools and work environment.
- Apply undercoat and clear or colored polish onto nails with brush.
- Shape and smooth ends of nails, using scissors, files, or emery boards.
- Prepare customers' nails in soapy water, using swabs, files, and orange sticks.
- Remove previously applied nail polish, using liquid remover and swabs.
- Assess the condition of clients' hands, remove dead skin, and massage hands.
- Advise clients on nail care and use of products and colors.
- Prepare nail cuticles with water and oil, using cuticle knives to push back cuticles and scissors or nippers to trim cuticles.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most manicurists and pedicurists work full time, although part-time work is common. Schedules may vary and often include evenings and weekends. Some manicurists and pedicurists work more than 40 hours per week. Self-employed workers often set their own schedules.
Where the work happens
- Almost never works outdoors
Physical demands
- Seated for more than half the working day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
Pressure and stakes
- Conflict situations are rare
- Mistakes are not usually serious
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where manicurists and pedicurists work
| Personal care services | 71% |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 28% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Reading Comprehension2.8/5
- Active Learning2.8/5
- Monitoring2.6/5
- Critical Thinking2.5/5
- Writing2.1/5
- Learning Strategies2.1/5
Transferable skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Service Orientation3.0/5
- Coordination2.8/5
- Time Management2.8/5
- Persuasion2.6/5
- Negotiation2.5/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.4/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.3/5
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Data base user interface and query software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Manicurist and Pedicurist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary5.6
Investigative1.3
Artistic2.3
Socialprimary3.1
Enterprising2.4
Conventionalprimary3.7
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Manicurist and Pedicurist: frequently asked questions
How much do Manicurists and Pedicurists make?
Manicurists and Pedicurists earn a median of $35,760 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 30% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $17.19/hr. The middle half earn between $34,010 and $41,650. The top 10% earn $50,140 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Manicurist and Pedicurist?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Manicurists and Pedicurists. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 49.2% hold high school diploma.
Is Manicurist and Pedicurist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 7.0% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 24,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Manicurist and Pedicurist do?
Manicurists and pedicurists clean, shape, and beautify fingernails and toenails. A core O*NET task: clean and sanitize tools and work environment. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Spreadsheet software, Web page creation and editing software.
Which states pay Manicurists and Pedicurists the most?
The highest state medians for Manicurists and Pedicurists are Hawaii ($60,790), Nebraska ($56,940), Washington ($49,900) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Nebraska moves to the top at $63,194.
What personality type suits a Manicurist and Pedicurist?
O*NET scores Manicurists and Pedicurists highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, ISTJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Manicurist and Pedicurist?
From 12 hours in Alaska to 750 in Alabama. Concrete midpoints: Connecticut and Massachusetts 100, Virginia 150, Florida 180, Ohio and Pennsylvania 200, Oregon 241, New York 250, North Carolina 300, Iowa 325, Illinois 350, Louisiana 500, Georgia 525, and Texas, Nevada, Washington and Oklahoma 600.
Do you need a license to work as a Manicurist and Pedicurist?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. Everything of consequence here is set by the state: the number of training hours, whether the credential is a licence or a registration, whether there is an examination at all, and whether a cosmetology licence lets you work on nails. Connecticut is worth calling out because most sources still describe it as the state with no nail licence: its nail technician statute was repealed in 2001, but a new one took effect on 1 January 2021 requiring not less than 100 hours of study, a $100 fee and biennial renewal, with no board examination. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact, which would eventually allow multistate practice, has been enacted in 12 states (Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia) but the compact commission states plainly that licensees in member states cannot yet practise through it.
What exams do you have to pass to become a Manicurist and Pedicurist?
The NIC Nail Technology Theory Examination and the California manicurist written examination. 110 items of which 100 are scored, in 90 minutes. NIC also publishes a Written Practical examination, a computer-based substitute for the hands-on exam, which exists for only four disciplines: Barber Styling, Cosmetology, Esthetics and Nail Technology.