Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 123,000 people employed as manicurists and pedicurists in the United States. The median annual salary is $27,900. Entry level employees earn approximately $20,370 per year and senior employees earn approximately $38,900 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Schedule client appointments and accept payments.
• Assess the condition of clients' hands, remove dead skin, and massage hands.
• Roughen surfaces of fingernails, using abrasive wheel.
• Advise clients on nail care and use of products and colors.
• Treat nails to repair or improve strength and resilience by wrapping.
• Use rotary abrasive wheels to shape and smooth nails or artificial extensions.
• 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.
• Extend nails using powder, solvent, and paper forms attached to tips of customers' fingers to support and shape artificial nails.
• Polish nails, using powdered polish and buffer.
• Whiten underside of nails with white paste or pencils.
• Promote and sell nail care products.
• Decorate clients' nails by piercing or attaching ornaments or designs.

Career List