Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary: $38,587 Median Pay (2026 stats)
TL;DR
About 147,820 manicurists and pedicurists nationally earn a mean of $38,587. Projections imply about 8.3% annual growth; much hiring sits in other services (except public administration).
Key Statistics
Manicurists and Pedicurists: what the data shows
Common questions about manicurists and pedicurists careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a manicurists and pedicurists?
Manicurists and Pedicurists is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 39-5092.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 147,820 workers.
What does a manicurists and pedicurists do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Performing for or Working Directly with the Public, Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships, Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others, Assisting and Caring for Others, Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a manicurists and pedicurists make?
BLS national median annual wage: $34,660 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $38,587 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
Wage percentiles below are from the California OEWS extract (not national unless noted).
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,586 |
| 25th percentile | $35,368 |
| Median (50th) | $35,995 |
| 75th percentile | $37,527 |
| 90th percentile | $45,878 |
What education do you need?
For Manicurists and Pedicurists, O*NET incumbent surveys in our extract most often report: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).
These are education levels of current workers, not minimum legal requirements.
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Active Listening, Active Learning, Coordination, and knowledge areas including Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Administration and Management, Personnel and Human Resources. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is manicurists and pedicurists in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 8.3% annual growth (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: 49.1%.
Ten-year projected employment change: 122.3%.
Current U.S. headcount: 147,820.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do manicurists and pedicuristss work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-industry | 147,820 | 20.0% |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | 147,760 | 20.0% |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 145,870 | 19.8% |
| Personal and Laundry Services | 145,820 | 19.8% |
| Personal Care Services | 145,160 | 19.7% |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 1,210 | 0.2% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for Manicurists and Pedicurists in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
What careers are related?
Other occupations linked through shared degree pathways in our mapping:
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | 26,830 | $33,880 |
| Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | 16,570 | $53,990 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | 270,480 | $102,140 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 472,300 | $78,140 |
| Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | 4,590 | $34,530 |
| Personal Care Aides | — | — |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | 295,460 | $35,250 |
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Manicurists and Pedicurists workforce.
Employment Over Time
147,820 Workforce in 2023
The Manicurists and Pedicurists workforce has been growing over time.
Historical employment trends for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$38,587 Average Wage
In 2023, Manicurists and Pedicurists earned an average of $38,587.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Salary distribution for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Employment Growth Projections
8.3% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
223,027 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: 49.1%
332,540 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: 122.3%
This occupation is projected to grow at 8.3% annually, indicating strong future demand.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Manicurists and Pedicurists and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Manicurists and Pedicurists employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Wage Trends by Industry
10.3% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
State employment and wages are from the U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 state extract. Metropolitan areas use the national MSA file when available.
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- CA: 37,730 employees, $37,520 avg wage
- NY: 19,770 employees, $34,410 avg wage
- NJ: 10,530 employees, $35,340 avg wage
- PA: 8,680 employees, $28,190 avg wage
- WA: 5,650 employees, $47,260 avg wage
- MA: 5,400 employees, $36,250 avg wage
- CT: 4,420 employees, $34,430 avg wage
- VA: 4,270 employees, $40,860 avg wage
- FL: 4,230 employees, $36,000 avg wage
- TX: 4,150 employees, $40,080 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: 23,850 employees, $35,030 avg wage
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 15,010 employees, $36,830 avg wage
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: 6,600 employees, $29,870 avg wage
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: 4,530 employees, $36,520 avg wage
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA: 4,430 employees, $35,990 avg wage
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA: 4,090 employees, $38,820 avg wage
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA: 3,910 employees, $37,400 avg wage
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA: 3,730 employees, $48,120 avg wage
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: 3,180 employees, $41,720 avg wage
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI: 2,800 employees, $35,740 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Diversity
Demographic information on Manicurists and Pedicurists in the US.
Gender and Age
The workforce of Manicurists and Pedicurists in 2023 was 147,820 people, with 62.0% women and 38.0% men.
Gender and age distribution for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Manicurists and Pedicurists in 2023 were Business Administration, Business, Social Sciences.
Common majors for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Manicurists and Pedicurists workers.
Education level distribution for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Skills
Manicurists and Pedicurists need many skills, but most especially Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Active Listening, Active Learning.
Required skills for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Manicurists and Pedicurists include Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Administration and Management, Personnel and Human Resources, Sales and Marketing.
Knowledge areas required for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Manicurists and Pedicurists include Near Vision, Arm-Hand Steadiness, Finger Dexterity, Speech Recognition, Manual Dexterity.
Required abilities for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Manicurists and Pedicurists.
Daily Activities
Manicurists and Pedicurists spend their time on activities such as Performing for or Working Directly with the Public, Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships, Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others, Assisting and Caring for Others, Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge.
Most important work activities for Manicurists and Pedicurists.
About
Manicurists and Pedicurists
The average yearly wage for Manicurists and Pedicurists was $38,587 in 2023.
SOC Code
39-5092 - Manicurists and Pedicurists
Insights and Analysis
Compensation snapshot: Manicurists and Pedicurists reports an average salary of $38,587.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 147,820 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual growth is 8.3%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.