How much do nail technicians make?

Nail Technician salary 2026 · BLS occupation: Manicurists and Pedicurists (SOC 39-5092) · Updated October 28, 2026

Answer

Nail technicians in the US earned a median of $35,760 a year ($17.19 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $34,010 to $41,650.

Median annual pay: $35,760; Mean $38,570
Median hourly pay: $17.19; Mean $18.54
Typical range (10th–90th): $28.9K–$50.1K; $28,920 to $50,140
US jobs: 152,770; +9.2% projected, 2025–35

BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology

How to become a nail technician: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: Nebraska

Nail Technician pay range

Annual wages, May 2025

10th percentile$28,920
25th percentile$34,010
Median$35,760
75th percentile$41,650
90th percentile$50,140

Half of all nail technicians earned more than $35,760 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $28,920; the top 10% made over $50,140. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $34,010 to $41,650.

These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.

Percentile	Annual	Hourly	Monthly
10th	$28,920	$13.90	$2,410
25th	$34,010	$16.35	$2,834
Median (50th)	$35,760	$17.19	$2,980
75th	$41,650	$20.03	$3,471
90th	$50,140	$24.10	$4,178
Mean (average)	$38,570	$18.54	$3,214

Nail Technician salary by state

Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024

Median annual pay for nail technicians by state. Darker tiles pay more. A dash means BLS did not publish a figure.

Highest-paying states

1. Hawaii $60,790
2. Nebraska $56,940
3. Washington $49,900
4. Maine $48,540
5. Alaska $47,890

Lowest-paying states

49. New Mexico $25,720
48. Georgia $26,910
47. Arkansas $27,690
46. Pennsylvania $27,990
45. Louisiana $28,170

Best after cost of living: Nebraska. Its median of $56,940 is worth about $63,194 at national-average prices, more than in Hawaii once prices are counted.


Alabama	$30,300	43	$34,113	35	$14.57	920	0.43
Alaska	$47,890	5	$46,786	7	$23.02	180	0.56
Arizona	$35,290	28	$35,053	32	$16.97	2,440	0.75
Arkansas	$27,690	47	$31,851	44	$13.31	230	0.18
California	$36,630	20	$33,083	41	$17.61	39,210	2.15
Colorado	$37,110	16	$36,011	27	$17.84	3,970	1.38
Connecticut	$34,720	34	$33,510	38	$16.69	4,490	2.65
Delaware	$31,200	41	$31,260	45	$15.00	780	1.60
District of Columbia	$36,620	22	$33,321	40	$17.61	—	—
Florida	$37,840	13	$36,591	22	$18.19	4,470	0.45
Georgia	$26,910	48	$27,946	48	$12.94	1,710	0.35
Hawaii	$60,790	1	$55,288	2	$29.23	40	0.06
Idaho	$34,910	30	$36,557	23	$16.78	160	0.19
Illinois	$37,050	17	$37,066	20	$17.81	2,470	0.41
Indiana	$36,140	24	$38,723	15	$17.38	510	0.16
Iowa	$45,420	7	$51,754	3	$21.84	190	0.12
Kansas	$30,930	42	$34,341	33	$14.87	1,510	1.05
Kentucky	$45,310	8	$50,256	5	$21.79	240	0.12
Louisiana	$28,170	45	$31,936	43	$13.55	2,210	1.14
Maine	$48,540	4	$50,015	6	$23.34	200	0.31
Maryland	$37,300	14	$35,538	30	$17.93	2,080	0.75
Massachusetts	$35,470	27	$33,539	37	$17.06	4,660	1.28
Michigan	$36,890	18	$38,340	17	$17.74	1,020	0.23
Minnesota	$36,040	25	$36,544	24	$17.33	3,260	1.11
Mississippi	$37,300	15	$42,897	11	$17.94	520	0.45
Missouri	$39,100	11	$43,054	10	$18.80	1,630	0.56
Montana	$33,660	38	$35,564	29	$16.18	110	0.22
Nebraska	$56,940	2	$63,194	1	$27.37	310	0.30
Nevada	$41,880	10	$41,889	13	$20.14	1,020	0.66
New Hampshire	$35,100	29	$33,697	36	$16.87	490	0.72
New Jersey	$36,370	23	$33,427	39	$17.49	11,520	2.69
New Mexico	$25,720	49	$27,892	49	$12.37	—	—
New York	$34,660	35	$32,116	42	$16.66	19,710	2.03
North Carolina	$34,740	33	$36,830	21	$16.70	1,900	0.39
North Dakota	$33,430	39	$37,579	19	$16.07	270	0.63
Ohio	$35,590	26	$38,362	16	$17.11	3,680	0.66
Oklahoma	$31,330	40	$35,666	28	$15.06	480	0.28
Oregon	$46,080	6	$44,582	9	$22.16	2,210	1.12
Pennsylvania	$27,990	46	$28,687	47	$13.46	9,610	1.58
Rhode Island	$34,910	31	$34,132	34	$16.78	—	—
South Carolina	$33,810	37	$36,064	26	$16.26	710	0.31
South Dakota	$45,310	9	$51,148	4	$21.79	250	0.55
Tennessee	$34,810	32	$37,890	18	$16.74	1,200	0.37
Texas	$34,040	36	$35,072	31	$16.37	5,340	0.38
Utah	$28,820	44	$29,151	46	$13.85	1,150	0.66
Vermont	—	—	—	—	—	100	0.33
Virginia	$36,630	21	$36,230	25	$17.61	4,230	1.03
Washington	$49,900	3	$46,630	8	$23.99	5,570	1.57
West Virginia	$38,260	12	$42,750	12	$18.40	120	0.17
Wisconsin	$36,680	19	$38,982	14	$17.63	2,350	0.80
Wyoming	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure (2 states). State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.

Best-paying metro areas for nail technicians

187 metro areas with published pay

Highest median pay
Metro area	Median	Adjusted	Jobs
Portland-South Portland, ME	$59,350	$58,267	130
Omaha, NE-IA	$58,620	$63,779	230
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$50,800	$45,711	3,610
Grand Forks, ND-MN	$49,290	$56,875	30
Fairbanks-College, AK	$47,990	$46,498	40
Anchorage, AK	$47,890	$45,428	120
Rapid City, SD	$47,600	$53,387	60
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$47,280	$44,849	2,190
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$46,840	$46,803	170
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$46,620	$45,508	50

Most jobs
Metro area	Jobs	Median	Adjusted
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	24,390	$34,910	$31,014
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	15,050	$36,570	$32,202
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	7,320	$31,200	$30,423
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	4,750	$35,200	$33,070
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	4,180	$36,670	$32,774
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	4,040	$41,600	$35,982
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	3,780	$35,480	$32,771
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	3,610	$50,800	$45,711
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	3,400	$42,040	$38,610
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	3,130	$35,340	$33,130

BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).

What moves nail technician pay: employers and settings

Where you work matters more than who you work for, since 98.5% of nail techs work in personal care services such as salons and spas, at a median of $35,750. Hotel and resort spas pay a little more at $39,190. The few working in medical offices, such as podiatry practices, earn $47,150.

Location is the biggest single factor. Hawaii has the highest state median at $60,790, followed by Nebraska at $56,940, Washington at $49,900, Maine at $48,540, and Alaska at $47,890. Adjusted for living costs, Nebraska comes out on top. The lowest medians are in Arkansas at $27,690, Georgia at $26,910, and New Mexico at $25,720.

Within a salon, pay depends heavily on how full your book is, how many enhancement and nail art services you sell, and whether you are paid hourly, by commission or as a booth renter. A loyal client base, speed without shortcuts, and skill with sculpted extensions and detailed art raise earnings. Pay runs from $28,920, the 10th percentile, to $50,140, the 90th, a spread that reflects location, clientele, services offered and work arrangement more than years alone. Many nail techs work part time, which lowers annual totals.

Where nail technicians work
Industry	Share of jobs	Median pay
Personal Care Services	98.5%	$35,750
Traveler Accommodation	0.8%	$39,190
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries	0.3%	$38,520
Offices of Other Health Practitioners	0%	$47,150

Private employers and government
Employer type	Jobs	Median pay
Private employers	152,670	$35,760
Local government (incl. schools and hospitals)	100	$39,380

BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).

Nail Technician pay over time

Median annual pay, 2015–2025

$35.8K $20.8K

2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Nominal median (dollars of each year)In May 2025 dollars (adjusted with CPI-U)

The median rose from $20,820 in 2015 to $35,760 in 2025, up 72% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2015 median is worth $28,144 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay grew 27% over the period.

BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.

What nail technicians do

A nail technician, also called a nail tech or manicurist, cleans, shapes and decorates clients' fingernails and toenails. A typical day mixes basic manicures and pedicures with gel polish, acrylic and gel extensions, fills, removals and hand-painted nail art. Before each service, a good nail tech checks the client's hands or feet and turns away anyone with signs of infection, which is a medical issue, not a salon one.

Almost all work in nail salons, full-service hair and beauty salons and day spas, with smaller numbers in hotel and resort spas. About a quarter are self-employed, renting a station or suite or running their own salon, and some offer mobile manicures at homes, offices and events. The work is done seated, bent over a small table for hours, with repetitive filing and buffing. Nail techs handle acetone, acrylic monomers, glues and polishes all day, so ventilation, gloves and masks matter. Evening and weekend appointments are standard, because that is when clients are free.

A typical day

Clean and disinfect tools, foot spas and work stations between every client
Remove old polish or enhancements and shape, buff and prep natural nails
Apply gel polish, acrylic or gel extensions and do fills on returning clients
Paint designs, add decals or stones and match colors to what the client brings in
Soak, exfoliate and massage hands and feet during manicures and pedicures
Book appointments, take payments and keep client records
Suggest at-home nail care and sell polish, oils and other retail products

Also called: nail tech, manicurist, nail techs, nail technician (nail tech), pedicurist.

How to become a nail technician

Full guide

To become a nail technician, you complete a state-approved nail technology or manicurist program, often 250 to 600 hours depending on the state, then pass your state's licensing exam. Most people are licensed within 3 to 9 months.

Typical time: 4-9 months; Fastest: About 2-3 months (short full-time program in a low-hour state)
Minimum education: State-approved nail technology (manicurist) program; some states also require a high school diploma or a minimum grade level
License: Required in nearly all states; hours and exams vary by state
Typical training cost: $3.7K–$7.3K; See the guide for what it includes

Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a nail technician: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.

Is it worth it? Training cost against pay

Compare careers

Training time: 4-9 months; Typical path in our guide
Training cost: $3.7K–$7.3K; Tuition and exam fees, before aid
Median pay: $35,760; $15,220 below the all-jobs median ($50,980)
Cost vs. one year's pay: 10–20%; Training cost as a share of a year at the median

The median for nail technicians is below the median for all US jobs, so the case for training rests on the work itself, entry speed and local pay rather than a pay premium. This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.

Job outlook for nail technicians

BLS Employment Projections 2025–35

Projected growth: +9.2%; All occupations +3.5%
Jobs in 2025: 201,800; 220,400 projected for 2035
Openings each year: 21,900; New jobs plus replacements
Self-employed: 23.1%; Not in the pay figures above

BLS projects nail technician jobs to grow 9.2% from 2025 to 2035, from 201,800 to 220,400, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. Manicures and pedicures are an affordable treat that people at most income levels keep buying, and quick low-cost services and mobile nail services are adding demand. Interest in grooming and self-care among both women and men also helps. About 21,900 openings are expected each year, many from nail techs leaving the field, so licensed newcomers can usually find a chair, though building a full book of clients takes time.

Related careers and their pay

Cosmetologist$35,790
Esthetician$45,330
Barber$38,210
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers$41,600
Shampooers$32,600

Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Nail Technician salary FAQ

How much do nail technicians make an hour?

The median hourly wage for nail technicians was $17.19 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $13.90 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $24.10. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.

Which state pays nail technicians the most?

Hawaii has the highest median pay for nail technicians, $60,790 a year, followed by Nebraska ($56,940) and Washington ($49,900). After adjusting for each state's price level, Nebraska comes out ahead at about $63,194 in national-average dollars.

Do nail technicians make six figures?

Few do: based on the BLS percentiles, fewer than 10% of nail technicians earn more than $100,000 a year. The median is $35,760, and the top 10% earn more than $50,140. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.

Is being a nail tech bad for your health?

It can be without precautions. OSHA notes that nail products may contain chemicals such as toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate and methacrylates, which can irritate the eyes, skin and lungs, and long-term exposure has been linked to more serious illness. Bending over a table and repetitive filing cause aches, and contact with clients' skin can spread infection. Good ventilation, gloves, masks, closed containers and stretching breaks reduce the risks.

Do nail techs make money from tips?

Tips are a normal part of nail salon income in the U.S., and regular clients who tip well add up over a week. How much a nail tech takes home also depends on whether they are paid hourly, by commission on services, or rent a booth and keep their own service fees. Retail product sales can add commission at some salons. Pay structure varies a lot from salon to salon, so ask before accepting a job.

What is the difference between a nail tech and a cosmetologist?

A nail technician is licensed only for nail services on hands and feet. A cosmetologist holds a broader license that usually covers hair, skin and nails, and needs a much longer program. Many cosmetologists do some nail work, but full-time nail techs tend to specialize in enhancements and nail art. A nail license is the faster, cheaper route if nails are all you want to do.

Sources

Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 39-5092
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
O*NET 31.0 Database (39-5092.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
Manicurists and Pedicurists, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology, NIC · checked October 28, 2026
Get a Nail Specialty License, New York Department of State · checked October 28, 2026
Apply for a Manicurist License, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · checked October 28, 2026
License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
Nail Salons: Chemical Hazards, Occupational Safety and Health Administration · checked October 28, 2026

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