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Job outlook for nail artists in the United States
Are nail artist jobs in demand?
Nail artist job and salary trends over time
Nail artist jobs over time
Nail artist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,017 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 616 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 943 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 929 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 877 | 0.00% |
Average nail artist salary over time
Nail artist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $43,369 | $20.85 | +8.1% |
| 2025 | $40,101 | $19.28 | +5.9% |
| 2024 | $37,860 | $18.20 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | $36,149 | $17.38 | +4.9% |
| 2022 | $34,468 | $16.57 | +6.4% |
Nail artist jobs by state
Most common states for nail artists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 39,536,653 | 353 | 1% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 77 | 1% |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 65 | 1% |
| 4 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 56 | 1% |
| 5 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 56 | 1% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 43 | 1% |
| 7 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 38 | 1% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 30 | 1% |
| 9 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 29 | 1% |
| 10 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 23 | 1% |
| 11 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 21 | 1% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 17 | 1% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 11 | 1% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 10 | 1% |
| 15 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 6 | 1% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 4 | 1% |
| 17 | New York | 19,849,399 | 73 | 0% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 4 | 0% |
| 19 | Vermont | 623,657 | 2 | 0% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 1 | 0% |
Nail Artist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of nail artist experts
Rider University
University of Indianapolis
Arkansas Baptist College
What general advice would you give to a Nail Artist?
Todd Dellinger: Know thyself. This response has many facets and implications - know your 'deep why' or vision of yourself as an artist and professional and frame around the impact you wish to have on others - this becomes a sort of 'lodestar' for the work ahead of crafting a career. Know who you are internally, as well as externally - as a 'package' because you are entering an industry where you - and the work you produce - are the commodity, for good or bad. As such, define and adhere to your boundaries - so that you cannot be taken advantage of, and can stay true to your vision. Know yourself in the context of the business - and know the business aspects of what you do. You are, at the end of the day, a business - too many artists ignore that. Then, stick to your knowledge of and vision for yourself as an artist and professional.
What general advice would you give to a Nail Artist?
gerard brown: Folks starting out in the crafts and the fine arts often think the most important thing is the images of their work they put out in the world - through social media, on grant applications, etc. But you also need to be able to write and speak about your work in ways that inspire and motivate ordinary people to share your interests. Too often, people come out of school speaking the language of school and writing for an academic reader - I wish everyone would read more good journalism about art in magazines and news papers (yes, they are online!) and learn to communicate about their work in an accessible, approachable way earlier in their careers.
What general advice would you give to a Nail Artist?
Todd Dellinger: Have a diverse and relevant toolkit of skills and expertise - creative and artistic ones, yes - but perhaps even more importantly, skills and expertise which translate into multiple, diverse corners of arts & entertainment and into other sectors. Know how to translate your artistic wizardry from the stage to a phone, from the studio to a streaming platform, from one arts discipline or style or genre to multiple others. But also, know how write up a marketing piece, a grant narrative, plan an event, manage a budget. You might find day-work in the very place where you're sharing your talent at night.
What Nail Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Todd Dellinger: Adaptability to change - it's inescapable and has been forever in the arts - but change comes so swiftly and from so many directions now - particularly those changes brought about by technology and media/communications. Be ahead of the curve when it comes to what new uses of AI, what new applications for social media and how to manipulate those to your advantage, to your "business" of being an artist in this world. Entrepreneurial skills are vital in any business. You will need to be your own entrepreneur - exercising creative, innovative ways of using your talents and skills "outside the box" and applying these in parts of the industry and in other settings to expand your earning and learning potentia
Nathaniel Foley
Assistant Professor of Art & DesignUniversity of Indianapolis
Fine And Studio Arts
What will help Nail Artists increase their earning potential?
Nathaniel Foley: A career in fine art is never a linear path like other professional fields, so one must remain flexible and aware of all opportunities that they might fit or create. Additionally, they possess numerous skill sets that are unique and they must be able to highlight them to an employer to demonstrate their value.
What general advice would you give to a Nail Artist?
Rev.Henry Parker: Professionalism is paramount in today's marketplace. You must be able to perform your craft at a level of excellence, be well acquainted with trends and future technological propensities, and have a digital presence that is attractive to industry gatekeepers.