How much does a manicurist and pedicurist make?
The median manicurist and pedicurist in the United States earns $35,760 per year, about $17.19 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all manicurists and pedicurists earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 39-5092.
Manicurist and pedicurist salary range
Pay for manicurists and pedicurists spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,920 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $50,140. The average (mean) wage of $38,570 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,920 | $13.90 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $34,010 | $16.35 | |
| Median (50th) | $35,760 | $17.19 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $41,650 | $20.03 | |
| 90th percentile | $50,140 | $24.10 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for manicurists and pedicurists (SOC 39-5092), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Manicurist and pedicurist salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Manicurists and pedicurists earn the most in Hawaii at $60,790 a year, and the least in New Mexico at $25,720. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $60,790 | 40 |
| Nebraska | $56,940 | 310 |
| Washington | $49,900 | 5,570 |
| Maine | $48,540 | 200 |
| Alaska | $47,890 | 180 |
| Oregon | $46,080 | 2,210 |
| Iowa | $45,420 | 190 |
| Kentucky | $45,310 | 240 |
| South Dakota | $45,310 | 250 |
| Nevada | $41,880 | 1,020 |
| Missouri | $39,100 | 1,630 |
| West Virginia | $38,260 | 120 |
| Florida | $37,840 | 4,470 |
| Maryland | $37,300 | 2,080 |
| Mississippi | $37,300 | 520 |
| Colorado | $37,110 | 3,970 |
| Illinois | $37,050 | 2,470 |
| Michigan | $36,890 | 1,020 |
| Wisconsin | $36,680 | 2,350 |
| California | $36,630 | 39,210 |
| Virginia | $36,630 | 4,230 |
| District of Columbia | $36,620 | N/A |
| New Jersey | $36,370 | 11,520 |
| Indiana | $36,140 | 510 |
| Minnesota | $36,040 | 3,260 |
| Ohio | $35,590 | 3,680 |
| Massachusetts | $35,470 | 4,660 |
| Arizona | $35,290 | 2,440 |
| New Hampshire | $35,100 | 490 |
| Idaho | $34,910 | 160 |
| Rhode Island | $34,910 | N/A |
| Tennessee | $34,810 | 1,200 |
| North Carolina | $34,740 | 1,900 |
| Connecticut | $34,720 | 4,490 |
| New York | $34,660 | 19,710 |
| Texas | $34,040 | 5,340 |
| South Carolina | $33,810 | 710 |
| Montana | $33,660 | 110 |
| North Dakota | $33,430 | 270 |
| Oklahoma | $31,330 | 480 |
| Delaware | $31,200 | 780 |
| Kansas | $30,930 | 1,510 |
| Alabama | $30,300 | 920 |
| Utah | $28,820 | 1,150 |
| Louisiana | $28,170 | 2,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $27,990 | 9,610 |
| Arkansas | $27,690 | 230 |
| Georgia | $26,910 | 1,710 |
| New Mexico | $25,720 | N/A |
State median wages for manicurists and pedicurists (SOC 39-5092), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for manicurists and pedicurists
The BLS projects employment of manicurists and pedicurists to grow 9.2% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 201,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 220,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 21,900 openings a year for manicurists and pedicurists. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a manicurist and pedicurist
The typical entry-level education for manicurists and pedicurists is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a manicurist and pedicurist earns
Employer, clientele, region, and in many cases tips shape pay. Established professionals in affluent, high cost areas earn near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Hawaii, $60,790) and the lowest (New Mexico, $25,720) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 152,770 people work as manicurists and pedicurists in the United States. At $35,760 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Manicurist and pedicurist salary FAQ
How much does a manicurist and pedicurist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a manicurist and pedicurist is $17.19. The middle half of manicurists and pedicurists earn between $16.35 and $20.03 per hour.
What is the highest manicurist and pedicurist salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of manicurists and pedicurists earn more than $50,140 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a manicurist and pedicurist make a year?
The median annual salary for a manicurist and pedicurist is $35,760. The average (mean) wage of $38,570 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a manicurist and pedicurist a well paid job?
At $35,760 a year, a manicurist and pedicurist earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 152,770 people work as manicurists and pedicurists in the United States.
Which state pays manicurists and pedicurists the most?
Hawaii has the highest median salary for manicurists and pedicurists at $60,790 a year. Nebraska ($56,940) and Washington ($49,900) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a manicurist and pedicurist a good career?
Employment of manicurists and pedicurists is projected to grow 9.2% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 21,900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a manicurist and pedicurist?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for manicurists and pedicurists as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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