# Manicurists and Pedicurists

> Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/manicurists-and-pedicurists
- SOC code: 39-5092.00
- Career family: Personal care and service
- Median annual pay: $35,760 (10th percentile $28,920, 90th percentile $50,140)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +9.2%
- Openings a year: 21,900
- Typical entry education: Postsecondary certificate
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 77 |
| Investigative (I) | 5 |
| Artistic (A) | 22 |
| Social (S) | 34 |
| Enterprising (E) | 23 |
| Conventional (C) | 45 |

## What you'd do

- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 61/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 55/100)
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (importance 50/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 49/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 43/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 42/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 42/100)
- Getting Information (importance 42/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 42/100)
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others (importance 38/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Active Learning, Coordination, Reading Comprehension, Time Management, Monitoring, Persuasion

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Administration and Management, Personnel and Human Resources, Sales and Marketing, Production and Processing, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, Design

## Also called

Fingernail Former, Fingernail Sculptor, Fingernail Sculpturer, Fingernail Technician, Licensed Nail Technician (Licensed Nail Tech), Manicurist, Nail Artist, Nail Technician (Nail Tech), Pedicurist, Salon Nail Technician (Salon Nail Tech)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1204) (CIP 1204, 326 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Clover Park Technical College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/clover-park-technical-college-582) | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | $31,122 | $33,290 | not reported |
| [Douglas Education Center](https://www.collegesref.com/college/douglas-education-center-831) | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | $24,344 | $32,245 | $12,000 |
| [Central New Mexico Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/central-new-mexico-community-college-469) | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | $22,359 | $27,398 | not reported |
| [Central Piedmont Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/central-piedmont-community-college-473) | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | $24,015 | $26,550 | not reported |
| [Bevill State Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bevill-state-community-college-246) | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | not reported | $23,086 | not reported |
| [Coahoma Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/coahoma-community-college-585) | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | not reported | $22,918 | not reported |
| [Houston Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/houston-community-college-1235) | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | $24,421 | $22,631 | $18,626 |
| [Gadsden State Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/gadsden-state-community-college-1041) | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | $15,398 | $18,504 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hairdressers-hairstylists-and-cosmetologists): $35,790 median pay
- [Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/painting-coating-and-decorating-workers): $41,600 median pay
- [Skincare Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/skincare-specialists): $45,330 median pay
- [Barbers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/barbers): $38,210 median pay
- [Shampooers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/shampooers): $32,600 median pay
- [Furniture Finishers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/furniture-finishers): $44,540 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.