Nail technician salary

Nail technicians in the U.S. earn a median $35,760 a year.

Median pay
$35,760
Median hourly
$17.19
Typical range
$28,920–$50,140
Jobs
152,770

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for nail technicians in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$28,920
25th$34,010
Median$35,760
75th$41,650
90th (top earners)$50,140

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$34,91024,390
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$36,57015,050
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$31,2007,320
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$35,2004,750
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$36,6704,180
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$41,6004,040
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$35,4803,780
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$50,8003,610
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$42,0403,400
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$35,3403,130

Nail technician salary by state

  1. 1Hawaii$60,790
  2. 2Nebraska$56,940
  3. 3Washington$49,900
  4. 4Maine$48,540
  5. 5Alaska$47,890
  6. 6Oregon$46,080
  7. 7Iowa$45,420
  8. 8Kentucky$45,310
  9. 9South Dakota$45,310
  10. 10Nevada$41,880
  11. 11Missouri$39,100
  12. 12West Virginia$38,260
  13. 13Florida$37,840
  14. 14Maryland$37,300
  15. 15Mississippi$37,300
  16. 16Colorado$37,110
  17. 17Illinois$37,050
  18. 18Michigan$36,890
  19. 19Wisconsin$36,680
  20. 20California$36,630
  21. 21Virginia$36,630
  22. –District of Columbia$36,620
  23. 22New Jersey$36,370
  24. 23Indiana$36,140
  25. 24Minnesota$36,040
  26. 25Ohio$35,590
  27. 26Massachusetts$35,470
  28. 27Arizona$35,290
  29. 28New Hampshire$35,100
  30. 29Idaho$34,910
  31. 30Rhode Island$34,910
  32. 31Tennessee$34,810
  33. 32North Carolina$34,740
  34. 33Connecticut$34,720
  35. 34New York$34,660
  36. 35Texas$34,040
  37. 36South Carolina$33,810
  38. 37Montana$33,660
  39. 38North Dakota$33,430
  40. 39Oklahoma$31,330
  41. 40Delaware$31,200
  42. 41Kansas$30,930
  43. 42Alabama$30,300
  44. 43Utah$28,820
  45. 44Louisiana$28,170
  46. 45Pennsylvania$27,990
  47. 46Arkansas$27,690
  48. 47Georgia$26,910
  49. 48New Mexico$25,720
  50. –Puerto Rico$22,900

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

Nail tech schoolsHow to become a nail technician

Frequently asked questions

How much do nail technicians make?

The median pay for nail technicians in the U.S. is $35,760 a year ($17.19 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,920, and the top 10% earn over $50,140.

Which states pay nail technicians the most?

The top-paying states are Hawaii ($60,790), Nebraska ($56,940), Washington ($49,900), Maine ($48,540), Alaska ($47,890).

How can a nail technician earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a nail technician covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Manicurists and Pedicurists, SOC 39-5092). Figures exclude self-employed workers.