Manicurist salary? (2023)

Is being a manicurist worth it?

In addition to a growing number of nail tech positions, there are plenty of other reasons why being a manicurist and pedicurist is so great. One of them is a steady income. It's important to remember that nail specialists have unlimited income potential, depending on how much they're willing to work.

How Much Does a Nail Technician Make? Nail Technicians made a median salary of $29,210 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $31,100 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $26,420.

You can have a long, fulfilling, creative career in a nail salon, but there is some hard work and effort required to get there. It's important that you're dedicated to this area of expertise, and that you can fulfil the requirements needed to get your career going.

A good, licensed nail technician knows just what to do to provide individualized services for their clients. Between cleaning, filing, trimming, polishing, and repairing, there's a lot that goes into perfecting the art of those perfect nails and toenails. Professional nail care services can be a lucrative business.

Nail salon workers can be exposed to biological hazards if they come into contact with infected skin, nails, or blood from a co-worker or client. Diseases that can result from exposure to infected blood include hepatitis and AIDS. Nail salon workers can also get fungal infections, such as athlete's foot, from clients.

How Long Does It Take to Complete a Nail Technician Program? Most nail technician programs take an average of 300 to 600 hours to complete. Program start times and lengths vary, but you can typically complete a nail tech program between three to nine months depending on your ability to attend school part- or full-time.

The “average” nail salon is estimated to have annual revenues of $287,000, but these facilities can gross as much as $575,000, and revenues are likely conservative, given that a significant share of receipts are via cash payments that go unreported. These nail salons have a net profit margin of about 17%.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 22.4% employment growth for nail technicians between 2021 and 2031. In that period, an estimated 36,600 jobs should open up. Nail technicians provide nail services to customers at salons, spas and barber shops, while some technicians operate their own business.

No previous drawing experience. No problem. Zero drawing or hand-painting experience is not an excuse to avoid putting nail art on your menu of services. It's an invitation to learn to trust your creative process and discover what kind of nail artist you can become.

What are the pros and cons of being a nail tech?

A manicurist will do the same duties as a nail technician. A manicurist also does waxes, including bikini wax and Brazilian wax, along with removing hair from any area of the body properly and safely. They can also shape eyebrows.

Celebrity nail artists can make up to $100,000 a year. Talk about living the dream (source).

While some nail technicians make an hourly wage while working at a salon, others take home commission-based pay, like Dantzler. And that means when you pay your final bill, the nail technician is only taking home the agreed-upon percentage of that total.

There is no specific qualification you need to take to be able to start a nail business. However, you will need to get insurance and many providers do require proof of qualifications in order to cover you. So, while you could in theory be a self-taught nail technician, it is not recommended.

A solid majority of nail technicians enjoy their work environment, probably contributing to overall higher satisfaction with working as a nail technician.

Products used in nail salons can contain many chemicals that can have serious health effects. Some potentially hazardous chemicals, the types of products they can be found in, and how they can affect a worker include: Acetone (nail polish remover): headaches; dizziness; and irritated eyes, skin, and throat.