### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Manicurists and Pedicurists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			manicurists and pedicurists imageManicurists and pedicurists clean, shape, and beautify fingernails and toenails.							
						Quick Facts:     Manicurists and Pedicurists2023     Median Pay
            						$34,250     per year
										$16.47     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Postsecondary nondegree awardWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    196,900Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    9% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    17,100What Manicurists and Pedicurists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Manicurists and pedicurists clean, shape, and beautify fingernails and toenails.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Manicurists and pedicurists usually work in a nail salon, spa, or hair salon. Most manicurists and pedicurists work full time, although part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary and often include evenings and weekends.
            
                                                How to Become a Manicurist or Pedicurist
                                                
                        
Manicurists and pedicurists must complete a state-approved cosmetology or nail technician program and then pass a state exam for licensure.
            
                        Pay
                        																																					    														The median hourly wage for manicurists and pedicurists was $16.47 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of manicurists and pedicurists is projected to grow							 9 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 25,500 openings for manicurists and pedicurists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for manicurists and pedicurists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of manicurists and pedicurists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about manicurists and pedicurists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Manicurists and Pedicurists Do 
            

			Manicurists and pedicuristsManicurists and pedicurists polish or buff nails.			
Manicurists and pedicurists clean, shape, and beautify fingernails and toenails.
Duties
Manicurists and pedicurists typically do the following:
Discuss nail treatments and services available
Remove clients' nail polish, if any
Clean, trim, and file nails
Soften calluses and remove rough skin
Massage and moisturize hands (for a manicure) and feet (for a pedicure)
Polish or buff nails
Apply or remove artificial nails and nail art
Advise clients about nail and skin care for hands and feet
Clean and disinfect their work area and toolsManicurists and pedicurists, sometimes called *nail technicians*, work exclusively on the hands and feet to groom fingernails and toenails. A typical service involves soaking the clients’ hands or feet to soften the skin in order to remove dead skin cells and artificial nails. Manicurists and pedicurists apply lotion to the hands and feet to moisturize the skin. They also may shape and apply polish to natural fingernails or toenails or apply and decorate artificial fingernails.
Manicurists and pedicurists use equipment that includes nail clippers, nail files, and cuticle tools. They must be focused while they perform their duties, because most of the tools they use are sharp. They keep their tools clean and sanitary and follow health regulations to protect consumer safety.
Some manicurists and pedicurists operate their own nail salon, which requires performing business tasks such as keeping inventory and ordering supplies. They also hire and supervise workers and may sell nail care products, such as nail polish and hand or foot cream.
 Work Environment
			Manicurists and pedicuristsManicurists and pedicurists work in spas or nail salons, and often sit for long periods.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Manicurists and pedicurists held about 196,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of manicurists and pedicurists were as follows:
        Personal care services
                70%Self-employed workers
                29Manicurists and pedicurists usually work in a nail salon, spa, or hair salon. The job involves a lot of sitting. A small number of manicurists and pedicurists make house calls, traveling to their clients' locations to provide mobile services. However, mobile services may not be widely available.
Manicurists and pedicurists use chemicals when working on fingernails and toenails, so they often wear protective clothing such as gloves and masks.
Work Schedules
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.
 How to Become a Manicurist or Pedicurist

			Manicurists and pedicuristsManicurists and pedicurists must pass a state-approved cosmetology program before licensure.			
Manicurists and pedicurists must complete a state-approved cosmetology or nail technician program and then pass a state exam for licensure.
Education
Manicurists and pedicurists must complete a state-approved cosmetology or nail technician program. These programs usually involve classroom and hands-on training. For a list of approved programs, contact your state licensing agency.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
State licensing requirements vary but usually include completing a state-approved cosmetology or nail technician program and passing a state exam. Applicants also may need to be at least 16 or 18 years old and have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Check with your state licensing agency for details.
Under state reciprocity agreements, licensed manicurists and pedicurists may be able to get a license in another state without needing to complete an additional program or to pass that state's exam.
Important Qualities
***Business skills*.** Manicurists and pedicurist who run their own nail salon must understand business principles. For example, they should be skilled at administrative tasks, such as accounting, and be able to manage a salon and its personnel efficiently and profitably.
***Creativity*.** Manicurists and pedicurists must be able to neatly finish small, intricate nail designs, as well as to suggest designs and match them to individual tastes.
***Customer-service skills*.** Manicurists and pedicurists must have good listening and interpersonal skills to meet clients' needs. Interacting with clients while doing a manicure or pedicure encourages repeat business.
***Dexterity*.** A steady hand is essential in achieving precise nail design. In addition, because manicurists and pedicurists often use sharp tools, they must have good finger dexterity.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Manicurists and PedicuristsMedian hourly wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$23.11   Personal appearance workers$16.79   Manicurists and pedicurists$16.47Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median hourly wage for manicurists and pedicurists was $16.47 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13.11, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $23.11.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median hourly wages for manicurists and pedicurists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Personal care services
                $16.47Most 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.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Manicurists and PedicuristsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Manicurists and pedicurists9%  Personal appearance workers8%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of manicurists and pedicurists is projected to grow				 9 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 25,500 openings for manicurists and pedicurists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 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.
			Employment
	
			
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.
			

                        Employment projections data for     manicurists and pedicurists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Manicurists and pedicurists**
			39-5092
			196,900
			214,000
			9
			17,100
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Manicurists and pedicurists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of manicurists and pedicurists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Barbers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists**
            Barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists provide haircutting, hairstyling, and other services related to personal appearance.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $35,080**Skincare Specialists**
            Skincare specialists provide cleansing and other face and body treatments to enhance a person’s appearance.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $43,200
 Contacts for More Information
								
For information about manicurists and pedicurists, including cosmetology and nail technician schools and state licensing, visit
American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS)
Beauty Schools Directory
National–Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC)
For information about other professional links, visit
Professional Beauty Association (PBA)

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Manicurists and Pedicurists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Manicurists and Pedicurists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/manicurists-and-pedicurists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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