Nail Salon Industry Statistics (2026): Jobs, Pay, Salons and Nail Health

A manicure station with a row of rose, plum and soft beige nail polish bottles, a folded towel, cotton pads and a white orchid

By Polished & Pretty Nails Editors · Last updated October 10, 2026

The short version

Key numbers

201,800nail tech jobs in 2025, including the self-employed$17.19median hourly wage, May 2025+9%projected job growth, 2025 to 203534,417nail salons with paid employees, 2023295,977nail businesses with no employees, 2023$11.37Brevenue of salons with employees, 202285.2%of nail techs are women (2025)3.47 mmaverage fingernail growth a month

Tap any number to jump to its source. Every figure on this page links to a government agency, a state board or a peer-reviewed study.

Last updated October 10, 202687 statisticsEvery number re-checked against its source

This page gathers the most useful numbers about the U.S. nail industry and nail health in one place: how many manicurists and pedicurists there are and what they earn, where they work, how many nail salons exist, what licensing looks like in the biggest states, and what research says about nail growth, nail problems and salon safety. Each statistic names its source and the year its data describe, so you can cite the original.

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Jobs and pay

How many manicurists and pedicurists there are, what they earn and where the job is heading.

152,770Employer survey

Wage-and-salary jobs at employers in May 2025 (BLS OEWS). Leaves out the self-employed.

201,800Jobs incl. self-employed

All jobs in 2025, including the 23% held by self-employed techs (BLS Employment Projections).

277,000Household survey

People who reported the job in 2025 (BLS Current Population Survey), which also picks up booth renters.

These three counts measure different things, so quote the one that fits your question and say which survey it comes from. Each is listed with its source below.

  1. 152,770

    U.S. employers reported 152,770 manicurist and pedicurist jobs in May 2025, according to the BLS wage survey.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey by occupation, May 2025 · Data: May 2025 Link

  2. $38,570
  3. $17.19

    The median hourly wage for manicurists and pedicurists was $17.19 in May 2025, meaning half earned more and half earned less.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists · Data: May 2025 Link

  4. $35,760

    Converted to a yearly figure, the median pay for manicurists and pedicurists was $35,760 in 2025.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists · Data: May 2025 Link

  5. $13.90

    The lowest-paid 10 percent of manicurists and pedicurists earned less than $13.90 an hour in May 2025.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists · Data: May 2025 Link

  6. $24.10

    The highest-paid 10 percent of manicurists and pedicurists earned more than $24.10 an hour in May 2025.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists · Data: May 2025 Link

  7. 201,800

    Manicurists and pedicurists held about 201,800 jobs in 2025, a count that includes the self-employed.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists · Data: 2025 Link

  8. 23%

    About 23 percent of manicurist and pedicurist jobs in 2025 were held by self-employed workers.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists · Data: 2025 Link

  9. +9%

    Employment of manicurists and pedicurists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, which BLS calls much faster than the average for all occupations.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists · Data: 2025-35 projection Link

  10. 220,400

    BLS projects employment of manicurists and pedicurists to rise from 201,800 in 2025 to 220,400 in 2035, an increase of 18,600 jobs.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists · Data: 2025-35 projection Link

  11. 21,900

    About 21,900 openings for manicurists and pedicurists are projected each year, on average, over the 2025-2035 decade.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists · Data: 2025-35 projection Link

  12. $50,980

    For comparison, the median annual wage for all U.S. workers was $50,980 in May 2025.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists · Data: May 2025 Link

Where nail techs work

The states and metro areas with the most nail tech jobs, and where the job is most concentrated.

CaliforniaCalifornia: 39,21039,210New YorkNew York: 19,71019,710New JerseyNew Jersey: 11,52011,520PennsylvaniaPennsylvania: 9,6109,610WashingtonWashington: 5,5705,570
CaliforniaCalifornia: 39,21039,210New YorkNew York: 19,71019,710New JerseyNew Jersey: 11,52011,520PennsylvaniaPennsylvania: 9,6109,610WashingtonWashington: 5,5705,570
The five states with the most manicurist and pedicurist jobs, May 2025. Employer survey, so self-employed techs are not included. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Show the numbers as a table
StateJobs, May 2025
California39,210
New York19,710
New Jersey11,520
Pennsylvania9,610
Washington5,570
  1. 39,210
  2. 2.74

    New Jersey has the highest concentration of manicurist and pedicurist jobs of any state: a location quotient of 2.74, meaning the job is 2.74 times as common there as in the U.S. overall.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUS340000000000039509217 (OEWS location quotient, Manicurists and Pedicurists, New Jersey) · Data: May 2025 Link

  3. $51,700

    Among states with at least 3,000 nail tech jobs, Washington paid best, with an annual mean wage of $51,700 in May 2025.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUS530000000000039509204 (OEWS annual mean wage, Manicurists and Pedicurists, Washington) · Data: May 2025 Link

  4. 24,390

    The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area had 24,390 manicurist and pedicurist jobs in May 2025, the most of any U.S. metro area.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUM003562000000039509201 (OEWS employment, Manicurists and Pedicurists, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ) · Data: May 2025 Link

  5. 15,050

    The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area had 15,050 manicurist and pedicurist jobs in May 2025, second among metro areas.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUM003108000000039509201 (OEWS employment, Manicurists and Pedicurists, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA) · Data: May 2025 Link

  6. 4.03

    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, Connecticut, had the highest concentration of manicurist jobs of any metro area in May 2025, with a location quotient of 4.03.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUM001486000000039509217 (OEWS location quotient, Manicurists and Pedicurists, Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT) · Data: May 2025 Link

  7. 150,470

    The personal care services industry, which includes nail salons, employed 150,470 of the 152,770 manicurists and pedicurists counted by the wage survey in May 2025.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUN000000081210039509201 (OEWS employment, Manicurists and Pedicurists, NAICS 812100 Personal Care Services) · Data: May 2025 Link

Who does the work

Who works as a manicurist or pedicurist in the U.S., from the government’s household survey.

Manicurists and pedicuristsAll employed people
WomenNail techs, Women: 85.2%85.2%All workers, Women: 47.1%47.1%AsianNail techs, Asian: 67.5%67.5%All workers, Asian: 7.5%7.5%WhiteNail techs, White: 25.1%25.1%All workers, White: 75.7%75.7%Hispanic or LatinoNail techs, Hispanic or Latino: 14.5%14.5%All workers, Hispanic or Latino: 20.0%20.0%BlackNail techs, Black: 5.1%5.1%All workers, Black: 12.7%12.7%
WomenNail techs, Women: 85.2%85.2%All workers, Women: 47.1%47.1%AsianNail techs, Asian: 67.5%67.5%All workers, Asian: 7.5%7.5%WhiteNail techs, White: 25.1%25.1%All workers, White: 75.7%75.7%Hispanic or LatinoNail techs, Hispanic or Latino: 14.5%14.5%All workers, Hispanic or Latino: 20.0%20.0%BlackNail techs, Black: 5.1%5.1%All workers, Black: 12.7%12.7%
Share of employed people in each group, 2025 annual averages. Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race, so the bars are not meant to add up. Source: BLS Current Population Survey, Table 11.
Show the numbers as a table
GroupManicurists and pedicuristsAll employed
Women85.2%47.1%
Asian67.5%7.5%
White25.1%75.7%
Hispanic or Latino14.5%20.0%
Black5.1%12.7%
  1. 277,000

    About 277,000 people worked as manicurists and pedicurists in 2025, according to the household-based Current Population Survey.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, Table 11. Employed people by detailed occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (2025 annual averages) · Data: 2025 annual average Link

  2. 85.2%
  3. 67.5%

    Asian workers made up 67.5 percent of employed manicurists and pedicurists in 2025, compared with 7.5 percent of all employed people.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, Table 11. Employed people by detailed occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (2025 annual averages) · Data: 2025 annual average Link

  4. 25.1%
  5. 14.5%
  6. 5.1%
  7. 46.5

    The median age of employed manicurists and pedicurists was 46.5 in 2025, older than the 42.1 median for all workers.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, Table 11b. Employed people by detailed occupation and age (2025 annual averages) · Data: 2025 annual average Link

  8. 87,000

    About 87,000 manicurists and pedicurists were ages 45 to 54 in 2025, the largest age group in the occupation.

    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, Table 11b. Employed people by detailed occupation and age (2025 annual averages) · Data: 2025 annual average Link

  9. 437

    In California, 437 of the 1,111 first-time manicurist written exams given from April through June 2026 were taken in Vietnamese.

    Source: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board Meeting Materials, August 17, 2026 (Agenda Item No. 5b, Executive Management Reports) · Data: April 1-June 30, 2026 Link

The salon business

How many nail salons there are, what they take in, and the owner-operators the payroll counts miss.

0K10K20K30K40K2012201520172018201920202021202220232012: 17,394 salons2015: 22,317 salons2017: 24,955 salons2018: 26,369 salons2019: 27,939 salons2020: 30,441 salons2021: 32,078 salons2022: 33,802 salons2023: 34,417 salons17,39434,417
0K10K20K30K40K201220152018202120232012: 17,394 salons2015: 22,317 salons2017: 24,955 salons2018: 26,369 salons2019: 27,939 salons2020: 30,441 salons2021: 32,078 salons2022: 33,802 salons2023: 34,417 salons17,39434,417
U.S. nail salons with paid employees (NAICS 812113), 2012 to 2023. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns. The 2024 edition had not been released as of October 2026.
Show the numbers as a table
YearNail salons with employees
201217,394
201522,317
201724,955
201826,369
201927,939
202030,441
202132,078
202233,802
202334,417

The owner-operator gap

Payroll counts miss most of the nail business. In 2023 there were 34,417 nail salons with employees but 295,977 nail businesses with no employees at all, mostly self-employed techs. Texas shows the gap best: 1,881 salons with employees, yet 52,572 nail businesses with no employees.

  1. 34,417

    The United States had 34,417 nail salons with paid employees in 2023.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB2300CBP (data table) · Data: 2023 Link

  2. 148,059

    Nail salons with paid employees had 148,059 employees in mid-March 2023.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB2300CBP (data table) · Data: 2023 (pay period including March 12) Link

  3. $3.9B

    U.S. nail salons paid about $3.9 billion in annual payroll in 2023 ($3,912,509,000).

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB2300CBP (data table) · Data: 2023 Link

  4. 295,977

    There were 295,977 nonemployer nail salon businesses in 2023, mostly self-employed technicians with no paid staff.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, NS2300NONEMP (data table) · Data: 2023 Link

  5. $12.18B

    Nonemployer nail salon businesses reported $12.18 billion in receipts in 2023 ($12,184,676,000).

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, NS2300NONEMP (NAICS 812113 Nail salons, U.S.) (data table) · Data: 2023 Link

  6. 285,504

    Individual proprietorships accounted for 285,504 of the 295,977 nonemployer nail salon businesses in 2023.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, NS2300NONEMP (NAICS 812113 Nail salons, U.S.) (data table) · Data: 2023 Link

  7. $11.37B

    Nail salons with paid employees took in $11.37 billion in revenue in 2022 ($11,366,371,000), according to the Economic Census.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Economic Census, EC2281BASIC (data table) · Data: 2022 Link

  8. +82%

    Employer nail salon revenue was $6.24 billion in 2017 ($6,239,083,000), so it rose about 82 percent by 2022.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 Economic Census, EC1781BASIC (data table) · Data: 2017 Link

  9. 6,750

    California had 6,750 nail salons with paid employees in 2023, employing 35,630 people.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB2300CBP (data table) · Data: 2023 Link

  10. 4,329

    New York had 4,329 nail salons with paid employees in 2023, employing 20,125 people.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB2300CBP (data table) · Data: 2023 Link

  11. 2,126

    New Jersey had 2,126 nail salons with paid employees in 2023, employing 9,666 people.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB2300CBP (data table) · Data: 2023 Link

  12. 1,881

    Texas had 1,881 nail salons with paid employees in 2023, employing 6,243 people.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB2300CBP (data table) · Data: 2023 Link

  13. 52,572

    Texas had 52,572 nonemployer nail salon businesses in 2023, against 1,881 nail salons with paid employees.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, NS2300NONEMP (NAICS 812113 Nail salons, Texas) (data table) · Data: 2023 Link

  14. 46,328

    Florida had 46,328 nonemployer nail salon businesses in 2023.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, NS2300NONEMP (NAICS 812113 Nail salons, Florida) (data table) · Data: 2023 Link

Licensing

License counts and exam results from state boards that publish them.

  1. 134,181

    California had 134,181 manicurist licenses on file in mid-2026.

    Source: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board Meeting Materials, August 17, 2026 (Agenda Item No. 5b, Executive Management Reports) · Data: FY 2025-26 Q4 (as of about June 30, 2026) Link

  2. 1 in 5

    California's total barbering and cosmetology license population was 675,967 in mid-2026, so manicurist licenses make up about one in five.

    Source: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board Meeting Materials, August 17, 2026 (Agenda Item No. 5b, Executive Management Reports) · Data: FY 2025-26 Q4 Link

  3. 5,278

    California issued 5,278 new manicurist licenses in fiscal year 2025-26.

    Source: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board Meeting Materials, August 17, 2026 (Agenda Item No. 5b, Executive Management Reports) · Data: FY 2025-26 (July 2025-June 2026) Link

  4. 6,144

    California issued 6,144 new manicurist licenses in fiscal year 2024-25, up from 4,350 in 2022-23.

    Source: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board Meeting Materials, August 17, 2026 (Agenda Item No. 5b, Executive Management Reports) · Data: FY 2024-25 Link

  5. 60%

    California's manicurist exam pass rate fell from 77% to 60% between the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2025-26, after new exams took effect April 1, 2026.

    Source: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board Meeting Materials, August 17, 2026 (Agenda Item No. 5b, Executive Management Reports) · Data: FY 2025-26 Q3 vs Q4 Link

  6. 37,852

    New York had 37,852 active Nail Specialty licenses in December 2024, the newest count the state has published.

    Source: New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Active Licenses By License Type December 2023 / December 2024 (Appearance Enhancement statistics, PDF) · Data: December 2024 Link

  7. 68.07%

    Texas test-takers sat for the manicurist written exam 9,591 times in fiscal year 2025, with a 68.07% pass rate.

    Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Fiscal Year 2025 Barbering & Cosmetology Exam Results · Data: Texas FY2025 (Sept 2024-Aug 2025) Link

  8. 82.46%

    The Texas manicurist practical exam was taken 7,031 times in fiscal year 2025, with an 82.46% pass rate.

    Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Fiscal Year 2025 Barbering & Cosmetology Exam Results · Data: Texas FY2025 Link

  9. 71,049

    Texas's public license listing showed 71,049 Cosmetology Manicurist license records in fall 2026, plus 12,270 combined manicurist/esthetician licenses.

    Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (via Texas Open Data Portal), TDLR – All Licenses (data.texas.gov dataset 7358-krk7), grouped count by license type · Data: dataset updated September 19, 2026 Link

Requirements differ by state. Our nail technician license requirements by state lists the requirements in all 50 states and DC, with a link to every board.

Nail health

How fast nails grow and how common the most frequent nail problems are.

  1. 3.47 mm

    Fingernails grew an average of 3.47 millimeters per month in a study of healthy American young adults, versus 1.62 mm per month for toenails.

    Source: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol (Yaemsiri et al.), via PubMed, Growth rate of human fingernails and toenails in healthy American young adults (PMID 19744178) · Data: Study published 2010 Link

  2. 1.62 mm

    Toenails grew an average of 1.62 millimeters per month in the same study, less than half the fingernail rate.

    Source: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol (Yaemsiri et al.), via PubMed, Growth rate of human fingernails and toenails in healthy American young adults (PMID 19744178) · Data: Study published 2010 Link

  3. 6+ months

    If an entire fingernail is removed, it can take 6 months or longer to regrow, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

    Source: American Academy of Dermatology, Nail fungus: Diagnosis and treatment · Data: current guidance Link

  4. 12–18 mo

    Toenails can take 12 to 18 months to regrow after removal, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

    Source: American Academy of Dermatology, Nail fungus: Diagnosis and treatment · Data: current guidance Link

  5. 50%

    About 50% of people over age 70 develop nail fungus, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

    Source: American Academy of Dermatology, Nail fungus: Who gets and causes · Data: current guidance Link

  6. 13.8%

    A 12-center North American study of 1,832 people found onychomycosis (nail fungus) in 13.8% of participants.

    Source: J Am Acad Dermatol (Ghannoum et al.), via PubMed, A large-scale North American study of fungal isolates from nails (PMID 11004620) · Data: Study published October 2000 Link

  7. About half

    About half of people with plaque psoriasis see signs of psoriasis on their fingernails at some point, according to the AAD.

    Source: American Academy of Dermatology, Psoriasis: Signs and symptoms · Data: current guidance Link

  8. 50–79%

    Nail psoriasis affects 50-79% of people with skin psoriasis and up to 80% of people with psoriatic arthritis, according to a 2019 review.

    Source: Acta Derm Venereol, via PubMed, PMID 30521057 (Acta Derm Venereol. 2019;99(6):516-523) · Data: Review published May 2019 Link

  9. 20%

    Brittle nails affect about 20% of the population, and women are affected twice as often as men.

    Source: J Am Acad Dermatol (van de Kerkhof et al.), via PubMed, Brittle nail syndrome: a pathogenesis-based approach with a proposed grading system (PMID 16198786) · Data: Review published October 2005 Link

  10. 20–30%

    Habitual nail biting (onychophagia) affects an estimated 20-30% of the population across all age groups.

    Source: J Dermatolog Treat (Halteh, Scher, Lipner), via PubMed, Onychophagia: A nail-biting conundrum for physicians (PMID 27387832) · Data: Review published 2017 Link

  11. 0.7–3.5%

    Melanomas that start under the nail (subungual melanomas) account for 0.7-3.5% of all melanomas.

    Source: Melanoma Res (Holman et al.), via PubMed, Clinical and molecular features of subungual melanomas are site-specific and distinct from acral melanomas (PMID 33156595) · Data: Study published December 2020 Link

Want to know when a damaged spot will grow out? Our free nail grow-out calculator turns these growth rates into a date.

Salon safety

Outbreaks, air quality and product tests: the numbers behind salon safety rules.

  1. 110

    In a 2000 outbreak traced to one Northern California nail salon, 110 pedicure customers developed boils (furunculosis) caused by mycobacteria from whirlpool footbaths.

    Source: N Engl J Med (Winthrop et al., CDC/California DHS), via PubMed, An outbreak of mycobacterial furunculosis associated with footbaths at a nail salon (PMID 11986410) · Data: 2000 outbreak Link

  2. 10 of 10

    Investigators cultured Mycobacterium fortuitum from all 10 footbaths at the outbreak salon.

    Source: N Engl J Med (Winthrop et al.), via PubMed, An outbreak of mycobacterial furunculosis associated with footbaths at a nail salon (PMID 11986410) · Data: 2000 outbreak Link

  3. 70%

    Shaving the legs with a razor before a pedicure was a risk factor: 70 percent of infected customers had shaved, versus 31 percent of unaffected controls.

    Source: N Engl J Med (Winthrop et al.), via PubMed, An outbreak of mycobacterial furunculosis associated with footbaths at a nail salon (PMID 11986410) · Data: 2000 outbreak Link

  4. 170 days

    Among 61 patients from the outbreak, the infection lasted an average of 170 days.

    Source: Clin Infect Dis (Winthrop et al.), via PubMed, The clinical management and outcome of nail salon-acquired Mycobacterium fortuitum skin infection (PMID 14679446) · Data: 2000 outbreak Link

  5. 97%

    When California health officials swabbed 30 whirlpool footbaths in 18 nail salons, they found mycobacteria in 29 of them (97%).

    Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases (CDC journal), Vugia et al., Mycobacteria in Nail Salon Whirlpool Footbaths, California · Data: Sampling after the 2000 outbreak Link

  6. 50%+

    NIOSH laboratory tests indicate exhaust ventilation systems may cut nail salon workers' chemical exposure by at least 50%, according to OSHA.

    Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Nail Salons: Chemical Hazards · Data: current guidance Link

  7. 1970s

    In the early 1970s, after injury complaints, the FDA used court actions to remove products containing 100 percent methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer from the market.

    Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Nail Care Products · Data: early 1970s Link

  8. 10 of 12

    In California's 2011 test of nail products, 10 of 12 products labeled "toluene-free" actually contained toluene.

    Source: California Senate Committee on Health (summarizing CA Department of Toxic Substances Control), SB 977 Senate Bill – Bill Analysis (Senate Committee on Health, hearing date June 13, 2012) · Data: Sampled May 2011 Link

  9. 5 of 7

    In the same California test, claims that products were free of all three "toxic trio" chemicals could not be backed up in five of seven cases.

    Source: California Senate Committee on Health (summarizing CA DTSC), SB 977 Senate Bill – Bill Analysis (hearing date June 13, 2012) · Data: Sampled May 2011 Link

  10. 15 of 17

    Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was detected in the air of 15 of 17 Michigan nail salons studied, despite pure MMA not being permitted in salons since the 1970s.

    Source: Int Arch Occup Environ Health (Zhong, Batterman, Milando), via PubMed, VOC sources and exposures in nail salons: a pilot study in Michigan, USA (PMID 30276513) · Data: Fall/winter sampling, published 2019 Link

  11. 71%

For what these numbers mean in practice, see our nail salon safety guide, the toxic trio guide and our page on MMA in acrylic nails.

Methodology and update notes

How we chose the numbers. We used only primary sources: federal statistical agencies (BLS, Census Bureau), federal health and safety agencies (FDA, OSHA, CDC), state licensing boards and peer-reviewed studies indexed in PubMed. We used the newest release available on October 10, 2026: BLS wage data for May 2025, BLS projections for 2025 to 2035, Current Population Survey annual averages for 2025, County Business Patterns and Nonemployer Statistics for 2023, and the 2022 Economic Census.

How we checked them. After the research pass, every source was fetched again on October 10, 2026 and each number was matched against the source text. BLS blocks automated downloads, so its pages were checked through a standard web fetch instead. Rankings of states and metro areas come from the official May 2025 OEWS state and metro data files. Anything we could not confirm was left out.

Things to know when you cite.

  • BLS employer data (OEWS) leave out the self-employed; the household survey (CPS) includes them. Small states can have unreliable wage estimates.
  • The 2025 CPS figures are 11-month averages because October 2025 was not collected, and BLS says they are not strictly comparable with other years.
  • Census dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation.
  • The Texas license count comes from a live state listing and changes daily; it counts license records, not confirmed active practitioners.
  • Study results describe the people or salons studied and may not apply everywhere.

Next updates. County Business Patterns and Nonemployer Statistics for 2024, and BLS wage data for May 2026, when they are published.

FAQ

How many nail technicians are there in the U.S.? It depends on the survey. BLS counted 152,770 manicurist and pedicurist jobs at employers in May 2025, about 201,800 jobs including the self-employed in 2025, and about 277,000 people in the job in its 2025 household survey.
How much do nail techs make? The median hourly wage for manicurists and pedicurists was $17.19 in May 2025, or $35,760 a year, according to BLS.
How many nail salons are in the U.S.? The Census Bureau counted 34,417 nail salons with paid employees in 2023, plus 295,977 nail businesses with no employees, most of them self-employed technicians.
Is the nail tech job growing? Yes. BLS projects employment of manicurists and pedicurists to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 21,900 openings a year.

Sources

All sources checked October 10, 2026.

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey by occupation, May 2025. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.t01.htm
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/manicurists-and-pedicurists.htm
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUS060000000000039509201 (OEWS employment, Manicurists and Pedicurists, California). https://api.bls.gov/publicAPI/v2/timeseries/data/OEUS060000000000039509201
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUS360000000000039509201 (OEWS employment, Manicurists and Pedicurists, New York). https://api.bls.gov/publicAPI/v2/timeseries/data/OEUS360000000000039509201
  5. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUS340000000000039509201 (OEWS employment, Manicurists and Pedicurists, New Jersey). https://api.bls.gov/publicAPI/v2/timeseries/data/OEUS340000000000039509201
  6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUS420000000000039509201 (OEWS employment, Manicurists and Pedicurists, Pennsylvania). https://api.bls.gov/publicAPI/v2/timeseries/data/OEUS420000000000039509201
  7. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUS530000000000039509201 (OEWS employment, Manicurists and Pedicurists, Washington). https://api.bls.gov/publicAPI/v2/timeseries/data/OEUS530000000000039509201
  8. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUS340000000000039509217 (OEWS location quotient, Manicurists and Pedicurists, New Jersey). https://api.bls.gov/publicAPI/v2/timeseries/data/OEUS340000000000039509217
  9. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUS530000000000039509204 (OEWS annual mean wage, Manicurists and Pedicurists, Washington). https://api.bls.gov/publicAPI/v2/timeseries/data/OEUS530000000000039509204
  10. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUM003562000000039509201 (OEWS employment, Manicurists and Pedicurists, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ). https://api.bls.gov/publicAPI/v2/timeseries/data/OEUM003562000000039509201
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  12. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUM001486000000039509217 (OEWS location quotient, Manicurists and Pedicurists, Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT). https://api.bls.gov/publicAPI/v2/timeseries/data/OEUM001486000000039509217
  13. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, data series OEUN000000081210039509201 (OEWS employment, Manicurists and Pedicurists, NAICS 812100 Personal Care Services). https://api.bls.gov/publicAPI/v2/timeseries/data/OEUN000000081210039509201
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  19. U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB1700CBP (data table). https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=CBP2017.CB1700CBP&g=010XX00US&naics=812113
  20. U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB1800CBP (data table). https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=CBP2018.CB1800CBP&g=010XX00US&naics=812113
  21. U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB1900CBP (data table). https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=CBP2019.CB1900CBP&g=010XX00US&naics=812113
  22. U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB2000CBP (data table). https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=CBP2020.CB2000CBP&g=010XX00US&naics=812113
  23. U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB2100CBP (data table). https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=CBP2021.CB2100CBP&g=010XX00US&naics=812113
  24. U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB2200CBP (data table). https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=CBP2022.CB2200CBP&g=010XX00US&naics=812113
  25. U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, CB2300CBP (data table). https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=CBP2023.CB2300CBP&g=010XX00US&naics=812113
  26. U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, NS1300NONEMP (NAICS 812113 Nail salons, U.S.) (data table). https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=NONEMP2013.NS1300NONEMP&g=010XX00US&naics=812113
  27. U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, NS2200NONEMP (NAICS 812113 Nail salons, U.S.) (data table). https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=NONEMP2022.NS2200NONEMP&g=010XX00US&naics=812113
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