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Manicurists and Pedicurists
Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.
Other titles employers use
Manicurist · Nail Technician (Nail Tech) · Pedicurist · Fingernail Sculptor · Nail Technician
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and helping work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
Useful strengths
- Near Vision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Finger Dexterity
- Oral Expression
- Manual Dexterity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.6 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 2.1 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 3.8 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 4.0 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a postsecondary certificate. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 85%
- A certificate or some college 15%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Web page creation and editing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Customer relationship management CRM software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 56,100
- Job openings each year
- 6,660
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 7.3%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 56,100 | 6,660 | 7.3% |
| New York | 27,550 | 500 | 21.9% |
| New Jersey | 17,490 | 2,120 | 15.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 9,730 | 1,160 | 9.6% |
| Washington | 8,390 | 1,100 | 11.6% |
| Texas | 8,270 | 1,010 | 18.8% |
| Connecticut | 7,380 | 900 | 16.0% |
| Florida | 6,880 | 830 | 13.7% |
| Virginia | 6,200 | 740 | 10.9% |
| Minnesota | 5,550 | 670 | 10.3% |
| Arizona | 4,820 | 580 | 11.8% |
| Ohio | 4,660 | 530 | −4.7% |
| Colorado | 4,600 | 550 | 11.9% |
| Illinois | 4,160 | 490 | 5.6% |
| Maryland | 3,630 | 440 | 15.2% |
| Louisiana | 3,300 | 400 | 9.6% |
| Oregon | 3,150 | 390 | 25.5% |
| Massachusetts | 2,890 | 350 | 12.0% |
| Wisconsin | 2,790 | 340 | 16.3% |
| North Carolina | 2,740 | 330 | 16.6% |
| Georgia | 2,150 | 260 | 13.2% |
| Tennessee | 2,150 | 270 | 34.4% |
| Missouri | 1,820 | 210 | — |
| Alabama | 1,590 | 190 | 12.0% |
| Nevada | 1,570 | 190 | 18.9% |
| Kansas | 1,330 | 160 | 2.3% |
| South Carolina | 1,200 | 140 | 9.1% |
| Michigan | 1,180 | 140 | 2.6% |
| Indiana | 1,160 | 140 | 7.4% |
| Delaware | 1,070 | 130 | 5.9% |
| New Hampshire | 1,050 | 130 | 11.7% |
| Rhode Island | 830 | 100 | 10.7% |
| Oklahoma | 740 | 90 | 5.7% |
| Idaho | 630 | 80 | 26.0% |
| Nebraska | 490 | 60 | 8.9% |
| West Virginia | 380 | 50 | 26.7% |
| Mississippi | 350 | 40 | 6.1% |
| Puerto Rico | 300 | 40 | 20.0% |
| Utah | 260 | 30 | 23.8% |
| Arkansas | 250 | 30 | 8.7% |
| New Mexico | 230 | 30 | 21.1% |
| Iowa | 180 | 20 | 5.9% |
| South Dakota | 170 | 20 | 6.3% |
| North Dakota | 150 | 20 | — |
| Vermont | 130 | 20 | 8.3% |
| Maine | 100 | 10 | — |
| Wyoming | 60 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.