How to become a manicurists and pedicurist
Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
What manicurists and pedicurists do
- 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.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
Is manicurists and pedicurist a good career?
On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 30% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Hawaii $60,790
- Nebraska $56,940
- Washington $49,900
- Maine $48,540
- Alaska $47,890
Manicurists and Pedicurists salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.