How to hire a manicurist

How to hire a manicurist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step manicurist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a manicurist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new manicurist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the manicurist you need to hire. Certain manicurist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A manicurist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, manicurists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of manicurists.

   Type of Manicurist	Description	Hourly rate
   Manicurist	Manicurists and pedicurists clean, shape, and beautify fingernails and toenails.	$9-26
   Cosmetologist	A cosmetologist specializes in offering various services ranging from haircuts, makeup, skin and hair treatments, manicures, pedicures, and even shaving beards. They must have extensive knowledge and experience on the subject, plus keep up with current trends... Show more	$12-25
   Licensed Cosmetologist	A Licensed Cosmetologist provides various services, such as hairstyling, skincare, nail treatments, and makeup. They are responsible for complying with health and safety standards.	$11-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • TIP
   • Cosmetology
   • Customer Service
   • State Board
   • Client Appointments
   • Guest Service
   • Cleanliness
   • Skin Care
   • Spa Services
   • Nail Salon
   • Retail Products
   • Appointment Scheduling
   • Quality Standards
   • Nail Polish

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage beautiful hairstyles with the use of flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers, and other hair products.
   • Provide manicures, pedicures and tip overlays to clients.
   • provide manicures, pedicures and/or false eyelashes per the customer's request while upholding state cosmetology rules and regulations.
   • Take pride in maintaining immaculate cleanliness throughout facility.
   • Sterilize tools using conclaves and assist in maintaining salon cleanliness.
   • Perform makeup artist techniques that include wardrobe suggestions for magazine and local newspaper editorials.

   More manicurist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the manicurist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A manicurist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a manicurist in Maine may be lower than in Maryland, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level manicurist. Additionally, a manicurist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average manicurist salary

   $16.25hourly

   $33,794 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level manicurist salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average manicurist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$36,245	$17
   2	Massachusetts	$36,034	$17
   3	North Carolina	$35,613	$17
   4	California	$35,579	$17
   5	Mississippi	$34,074	$16
   6	Florida	$33,424	$16
   7	Texas	$32,942	$16
   8	New Jersey	$32,502	$16
   9	Connecticut	$31,090	$15
   10	Illinois	$29,593	$14
   11	Nevada	$27,742	$13

   Average manicurist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	E & S Inc	$36,280	$17.44
   2	MiniLuxe	$35,331	$16.99	5
   3	Paul Mitchell Schools	$35,121	$16.89	22
   4	GreenwichPub.Schls.	$34,182	$16.43
   5	The Magazi Inc	$33,629	$16.17
   6	Bright Health	$32,597	$15.67
   7	Ciao Bella	$29,049	$13.97
   8	MGM Resorts International	$27,004	$12.98	5
   9	JC Resorts	$26,580	$12.78
   10	Boyd Gaming	$26,127	$12.56	2
   11	Umpqua Indian Development Corporation	$25,988	$12.49	1
   12	Morongo Casino Resort & Spa	$25,971	$12.49
   13	Treasure Island, FL	$25,851	$12.43
   14	Ballantyne Country Club	$25,779	$12.39
   15	Hilton	$25,086	$12.06	13

4. Writing a manicurist job description

   A good manicurist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a manicurist job description:

   Manicurist job description example

   **Receive $500 Sign On Bonus, if selected for this position\!**
   
   _Rate of pay: $6\.98 per hour plus commission and service charge\._
   
   A Nail Technician is responsible for providing professional nail care treatments for guests in the hotel's continuing effort to deliver outstanding guest service and financial profitability\.
   
   **The Benefits** \- Hilton is proud to have an award\-winning workplace culture ranking\#2 Best Company To Work For in the U\.S\.
   
   We support the mental and physical wellbeing of all Team Members so they can Thrive personally and professionally in a diverse and inclusive environment, thanks to innovative programs and benefits such as:
   
   + Access to your pay when you need it through DailyPay
   + Career growth and development
   + Team Member Resource Groups
   + Recognition and rewards programs
   + Go Hilton travel discount program
   + Best\-in\-Class Paid Time Off \(PTO\)
   + Supportive parental leave
   + Employee stock purchase program \(ESPP\) \- purchase Hilton shares at 15% discount
   + Debt\-free education \(https://newsroom\.hilton\.com/corporate/news/hilton\-announces\-new\-education\-benefit\-through\-partnership\-with\-guild\-education\): Access to a wide variety of educational credentials _\(ex\. college degrees, high school completion, English\-language learning, digital literacy, professional certificates and more\)_
   
   _\*Please note, benefits may vary depending on the classification and union status of the position\._
   
   **What will I be doing?**
   
   As a Nail Technician, you would be responsible for providing professional nail care treatments for guests in the hotel's continuing effort to deliver outstanding guest service and financial profitability\. Specifically, you would be responsible for performing the following tasks to the highest standards:
   
   + Provide professional nail care treatments to include, but not limited to, polish applications, manicures, pedicures, paraffin treatments, acrylics, etc\. in accordance with state, local and company health and safety regulations
   + Utilize, maintain and conduct inventory of supplies and products and equipment
   + Maintain cleanliness of work area
   + Ensure product knowledge
   + Maintain records as required by federal, state, local and company regulations
   + Respond to guest inquiries and requests and resolve guest service issues in a timely, friendly and efficient manner
   + Perform general Spa duties, as needed
   
   **What are we looking for?**
   
   Since being founded in 1919, Hilton has been a leader in the hospitality industry\. Today, Hilton remains a beacon of innovation, quality, and success\. This continued leadership is the result of our Team Members staying true to our Vision, Mission, and Values\. Specifically, we look for demonstration of these Values:
   
   + Hospitality \- We're passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences\.
   + Integrity \- We do the right thing, all the time\.
   + Leadership \- We're leaders in our industry and in our communities\.
   + Teamwork \- We're team players in everything we do\.
   + Ownership \- We're the owners of our actions and decisions\.
   + Now \- We operate with a sense of urgency and discipline
   
   In addition, we look for the demonstration of the following key attributes:
   
   + Quality
   + Productivity
   + Dependability
   + Customer Focus
   + Adaptability
   
   **What will it be like to work for Hilton?**
   
   Hilton is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full\-service hotels and resorts to extended\-stay suites and mid\-priced hotels\. For nearly a century, Hilton has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value\. Hilton is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands \(http://jobs\.hiltonworldwide\.com/our\-brands/index\.php\) \. Our vision "to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" unites us as a team to create remarkable hospitality experiences around the world every day\. And, our amazing Team Members are at the heart of it all\!
   
   **Job:** _Spa, Health Club, Recreation_
   
   **Title:** _Manicurist \(Part\-Time\) \- Waldorf Astoria Orlando_
   
   **Location:** _null_
   
   
   **EOE/AA/Disabled/Veterans**

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right manicurist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your manicurist job on Zippia to find and recruit manicurist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting manicurists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new manicurist

   Once you've selected the best manicurist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new manicurist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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