Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary

SOC Code: 39-5092 • Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024

Median Salary
$34,660
Mean Salary
$36,910
Employment
147,820
Entry Level (10th %ile)
$27,910
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$47,990

Pay Range Distribution

10th percentile
$27,910 25th percentile
$31,510 Median (50th)
$34,660 75th percentile
$37,660 90th percentile
$47,990

Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary by State

StateMedianMeanEmploymentEntry (10th)Top (90th)
Kentucky$60,950$53,630150$36,070$64,220
Maine$49,430$57,790220$38,630$78,010
Washington$47,840$47,2605,650$35,160$58,540
District of Columbia$47,120$41,960N/A$35,360$48,520
Alaska$46,040$46,420300$29,520$57,920
New Mexico$42,840$44,52080$28,690$63,970
Mississippi$42,370$48,780N/A$23,460$81,790
South Dakota$40,210$42,110310$31,420$51,710
Missouri$38,950$40,6001,480$25,580$51,320
Iowa$38,530$39,790120$26,540$52,510
Utah$38,390$35,540900$27,560$43,690
Colorado$37,800$47,0003,910$30,900$75,610
Virginia$36,970$40,8604,270$28,840$57,990
Texas$36,900$40,0804,150$20,570$58,230
Nebraska$36,560$48,340230$24,960$103,950
Maryland$36,380$37,6602,100$31,500$45,850
Rhode Island$36,180$37,690410$33,280$45,480
Minnesota$36,140$35,8603,400$23,660$46,690
West Virginia$36,020$39,120180$29,190$55,580
Oregon$35,970$42,1001,910$32,050$63,650
Ohio$35,900$46,8303,500$29,060$73,050
Nevada$35,340$34,6601,140$29,680$41,410
California$35,000$37,52037,730$33,630$44,610
Michigan$34,920$38,310920$22,860$50,160
Arizona$34,820$37,9002,710$30,240$47,920
North Carolina$34,810$40,9301,880$19,550$94,110
Illinois$34,520$36,4402,490$29,120$45,200
Massachusetts$34,180$36,2505,400$31,660$44,280
Wisconsin$34,180$33,9702,210$22,260$44,450
Vermont$33,520$39,83090$31,360$61,170
New York$33,390$34,41019,770$31,200$37,620
Idaho$33,260$32,890250$23,990$41,510
Indiana$33,090$33,380410$20,860$50,420
Connecticut$32,640$34,4304,420$32,640$35,820
Florida$32,370$36,0004,230$27,080$46,630
New Hampshire$31,720$34,740830$22,140$53,890
New Jersey$31,470$35,34010,530$31,470$46,200
North Dakota$30,920$44,070260$30,140$75,130
Kansas$30,650$31,7501,350$21,370$43,490
Tennessee$30,030$31,6401,280$17,090$49,180
Oklahoma$29,560$29,580580$21,180$36,140
Hawaii$29,120$37,24070$29,120$66,590
Louisiana$29,100$30,8701,980$19,860$46,050
Delaware$28,480$30,330660$27,560$35,610
Alabama$27,980$30,850850$22,180$42,570
Arkansas$27,780$32,210280$23,700$47,510
Pennsylvania$27,480$28,1908,680$19,770$38,450
Georgia$26,500$29,2301,900$16,440$41,640
South Carolina$25,980$30,010740$17,230$47,430

Highest Paying Metro Areas

Metro AreaMedianMeanEmployment
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN$62,400$53,32080
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$49,580$48,1203,730
Portland-South Portland, ME$49,430$59,750150
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$46,470$44,13050
Kennewick-Richland, WA$46,180$45,520160
Anchorage, AK$46,080$46,020230
Bellingham, WA$46,050$46,760110
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$45,770$46,580290
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA$45,620$46,600330
Yakima, WA$45,210$43,39070
Bend, OR$45,090$48,99070
Charleston, WV$43,800$41,21040
Jackson, MS$43,310$51,410140
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS$42,460$53,740N/A
Salem, OR$41,600$43,410140
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$40,140$35,880530
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$39,950$44,0002,160
Hattiesburg, MS$39,520$47,01040
Rapid City, SD$39,420$41,76090
Boulder, CO$39,220$48,350250

About Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary Data

This data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The median salary represents the midpoint — half of manicurists and pedicuristss earn more and half earn less. The 10th percentile represents entry-level pay, while the 90th percentile represents the highest earners in this occupation. Employment counts represent estimated total jobs in May 2024.

Understanding Salary Percentiles

Salary percentiles show how wages are distributed across workers in this occupation. The 10th percentile represents entry-level pay — only 10% earn less. The median (50th percentile) is the true midpoint of all wages. The 90th percentile reflects top earners, typically in senior roles or high-cost metro areas. A wide gap between the 10th and 90th percentiles indicates that experience, location, and specialization significantly affect pay.

Factors That Affect Pay

Several factors influence salary for this occupation. Location is one of the biggest — the same job can pay 50% more in a high-cost metro area like San Francisco or New York compared to a rural area. Experience matters significantly; workers at the 90th percentile typically have 10-20+ years in the field. Industry also plays a role — the same occupation often pays differently in finance, technology, healthcare, or government. Education and certifications can boost pay, especially in fields that require advanced degrees or specialized licenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between median and mean salary?

The median is the midpoint — half earn more, half earn less. The mean (average) is the total of all salaries divided by the number of workers. The median is generally more useful because it is not skewed by a small number of extremely high earners.

Do these figures include bonuses and benefits?

No. BLS OEWS data measures base wages and salaries only. It does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, overtime, stock options, health insurance, retirement contributions, or other benefits. Total compensation may be 20-40% higher than base salary.

How reliable is this data?

The BLS OEWS survey covers approximately 1.1 million business establishments across the U.S. and uses rigorous statistical sampling methods. It is considered one of the most reliable sources of occupational wage data available. Self-employed workers and certain agricultural positions are not included.

How often is this data updated?

The BLS publishes new OEWS data annually, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period. This page shows May 2024 data, the most recent release.