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Nail technician salary
Average nail technician salary
$14.66
Understanding Nail Technician Salaries
Nail technicians play a vital role in the beauty industry, providing various services that enhance personal grooming. As of October 2025, the average salary for a nail technician in the United States stands at $30,503 annually, which breaks down to around $15 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly depending on several factors:
- Location: Nail technicians in states like California and New York often earn more due to higher demand and living costs.
- Experience: Entry-level positions may start lower, but experienced technicians can command significantly higher wages.
- Industry: Those working in high-end salons or spas typically see greater compensation compared to those in less specialized environments.
For example, top-paying states for nail technicians include Washington and Hawaii, where salaries can exceed $40,000 annually. Exploring these factors can provide insights into maximizing your earning potential in this rewarding field. Consider assessing job opportunities that not only offer competitive salaries but also align with your career goals.
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Where can a Nail Technician earn more?
Nail technician salary estimates from across the web
Average nail technician salary by state
The highest-paying states for nail technicians are Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York. The lowest average nail technician salary states are Oregon, Idaho, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for nail technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $33,889 | $16.29 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $35,684 | $17.16 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $36,431 | $17.51 |
| 4 | Arizona | $35,177 | $16.91 |
| 5 | Maryland | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| 6 | Vermont | $32,767 | $15.75 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $31,983 | $15.38 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $31,709 | $15.24 |
| 9 | Ohio | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $33,458 | $16.09 |
| 11 | New York | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $31,357 | $15.08 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $34,607 | $16.64 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $32,277 | $15.52 |
| 15 | Delaware | $33,116 | $15.92 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $32,205 | $15.48 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $32,589 | $15.67 |
| 18 | Michigan | $31,297 | $15.05 |
| 19 | Mississippi | $30,499 | $14.66 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $32,407 | $15.58 |
| 21 | Montana | $31,765 | $15.27 |
| 22 | Florida | $30,326 | $14.58 |
| 23 | Missouri | $29,249 | $14.06 |
| 24 | Colorado | $30,565 | $14.69 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $31,675 | $15.23 |
| 26 | Georgia | $29,141 | $14.01 |
| 27 | Washington | $33,286 | $16.00 |
| 28 | Maine | $28,311 | $13.61 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $30,368 | $14.60 |
| 30 | Alaska | $27,457 | $13.20 |
| 31 | Indiana | $28,603 | $13.75 |
| 32 | Texas | $30,223 | $14.53 |
| 33 | California | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $29,372 | $14.12 |
| 35 | Illinois | $28,404 | $13.66 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $31,219 | $15.01 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $28,371 | $13.64 |
| 38 | Utah | $28,432 | $13.67 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $28,445 | $13.68 |
| 40 | New Hampshire | $28,271 | $13.59 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $28,209 | $13.56 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $29,889 | $14.37 |
| 43 | Iowa | $26,170 | $12.58 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $28,599 | $13.75 |
| 45 | Virginia | $28,018 | $13.47 |
| 46 | District of Columbia | $31,552 | $15.17 |
| 47 | Nevada | $25,624 | $12.32 |
| 48 | Kansas | $25,100 | $12.07 |
| 49 | Oregon | $26,773 | $12.87 |
| 50 | Idaho | $26,616 | $12.80 |
| 51 | Alabama | $23,178 | $11.14 |
Highest paying cities for nail technicians
The highest-paying cities for nail technicians are New York, NY, Minneapolis, MN, and Phoenix, AZ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $36,627 | $17.61 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $35,725 | $17.18 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,090 | $16.87 |
| 4 | Oxnard, CA | $34,140 | $16.41 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $31,576 | $15.18 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $31,521 | $15.15 |
| 7 | Madison, WI | $31,222 | $15.01 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $30,975 | $14.89 |
| 9 | West Palm Beach, FL | $30,632 | $14.73 |
| 10 | Colorado Springs, CO | $30,582 | $14.70 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $28,546 | $13.72 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $25,684 | $12.35 |
Nail technician salary details
A nail technician's salary ranges from $17,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $53,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a nail technician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $30,503 | $2,542 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
| 10th Percentile | $17,000 | $1,417 | $8 |
Highest paying nail technician jobs
The highest paying types of nail technicians are pedicurist, nail artist, and technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetologist | $37,122 | $3,094 | $17.85 | 45,889 |
| Technician | $38,045 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 596,842 |
Top companies hiring nail technicians now:
Which companies pay nail technicians the most?
Nail technician salaries at J.F. Shea Co and Geisinger Medical Center are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average nail technician salary at companies like Kohler Co. and Mayo Clinic are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J.F. Shea Co | $50,424 | $24.24 |
| 2 | Geisinger Medical Center | $48,313 | $23.23 |
| 3 | Kohler Co. | $46,919 | $22.56 |
| 4 | Mayo Clinic | $46,370 | $22.29 |
| 5 | Bluegreen Vacations Unlimited | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| 6 | HEI Hotels & Resorts | $36,312 | $17.46 |
| 7 | The Walt Disney Company | $35,327 | $16.98 |
| 8 | McMenamins Pubs & Breweries | $35,316 | $16.98 |
| 9 | Noble House Hotels & Resorts | $34,874 | $16.77 |
| 10 | The Sage Group | $34,519 | $16.60 |
| 11 | Salon & Spa | $33,625 | $16.17 |
| 12 | Bright Futures Scholarship Program | $33,561 | $16.14 |
| 13 | OneSpaWorld | $33,561 | $16.14 |
| 14 | Rancho Santa Fe Open | $33,561 | $16.14 |
| 15 | Prose | $33,560 | $16.13 |
| 16 | The Cliffs Resort | $33,550 | $16.13 |
| 17 | Wycliffe Golf & Country Club | $32,376 | $15.57 |
| 18 | Ladies & Gentlemen Salons / Brown Aveda Institute | $32,338 | $15.55 |
| 19 | Soothe | $32,255 | $15.51 |
| 20 | Aimbridge Hospitality | $32,198 | $15.48 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Nail Technician salary by industry
The average nail technician salary varies across industries:
- The average nail technician salary in the health care industry is $32,807, the highest of any industry.
- The average nail technician salary in the finance industry is $32,308.
- Nail technicians in the retail industry earn an average salary of $30,747, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for nail technicians
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $32,807 | $15.77 |
| 2 | Professional | $32,308 | $15.53 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $31,169 | $14.99 |
| 4 | Retail | $30,747 | $14.78 |
High paying nail technician jobs
Nail technician salary trends
The average nail technician salary has risen by $9,226 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average nail technician earned $21,277 annually, but today, they earn $30,503 a year. That works out to a 26% change in pay for nail technicians over the last decade.
Compare nail technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average nail technician salary over time
Compare nail technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Nail technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,500 | $14.66 | +7.5% |
| 2024 | $28,200 | $13.56 | +5.6% |
| 2023 | $26,600 | $12.80 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | $25,400 | $12.22 | +4.6% |
| 2021 | $24,200 | $11.66 | +6.0% |
Recently added nail technician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sitio de Experiencia de Candidatos | Hair and Nail Technician | Chula Vista, CA | 06/29/2025 | $34,436 |
| BPS Direct | Nail Technician | Noel, MO | 06/28/2025 | $64,697 |
| Castle Pines | Nail Technician | Castle Rock, CO | 06/27/2025 | $48,001 |
| Gotham Podiatry PC | Certiified Nail Technician In Medical Office | New York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $52,175 |
| Hilton Worldwide | Nail Technician, Temporary)-Signia By Hilton Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | 06/24/2025 | $15,444 |
| Midtown Athletic Clubs | Nail Technician | Rochester, NY | 06/22/2025 | $32,349 |
| Disney Worldwide Services | Nail Technician-Full + Commission & Gratuities | Kapolei, HI | 06/22/2025 | $32,349 |
| Marriott International | Hair and Nail Technician | Chula Vista, CA | 06/21/2025 | $34,436 |
| Midtown Athletic Clubs | Nail Technician | Chicago, IL | 06/20/2025 | $33,809 |
| Lubbock | Nail Technician | Lubbock, TX | 06/20/2025 | $29,218 |
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