Nail technicians or nail techs -- manicurists and pedicurists -- make the hands and feet beautiful, and sometimes turn them into a work of art. Educational and licensure requirements for nail techs vary from state to state and are determined by each state's board of cosmetology. Some states have reciprocity agreements that allow nail techs who are licensed in a participating state to work in the state.
Most state boards of cosmetology have a minimum age requirement for nail techs, which varies from state to state but is typically at least 16, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Illinois and South Carolina, for example, the age is 16 years, while in Michigan it's 17 years, according to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
Education and Training
Nail techs must complete a minimum level of education and training before being licensed by the state, although the level required varies by state. Nail techs in South Carolina must have completed at least the tenth grade or its equivalent. They must also have completed at least 300 hours of instruction and training from a reliable nail technician school. Alabama requires nail techs to complete at least 600 hours of formal training or 1,200 hours of apprenticeship training. Iowa-based nail techs must complete a 325-hour course that includes practical instruction and training in life sciences and nail tech theory.
Manicurists and pedicurists typically have to pass one or more examinations before they are licensed to practice. These exams cover such topics as bacteria and infectious agents, nail service tools, nail disorders, salon safety and nail product chemistry. In Iowa, nail techs are required to pass the Iowa Law exam in addition to the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology nail technology examination. Nail techs in Michigan must pass an examination prescribed by the state board of cosmetology and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. In Kentucky, they must pass the state's two-part nail technician examination, which includes both practical and written components.
The mean annual income for nail techs from across the United States was $21,760 as of May 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages for nail techs varied by geographic region. Those who worked in Arkansas were among the most highly compensated, with annual wages of $33,130. California offered the greatest number of employment opportunities for nail techs, but the average annual income for California-based nail techs was below the national average at $20,040. Most states charge nail techs a recurring licensing fee.
2016 Salary Information for Manicurists and Pedicurists
Manicurists and pedicurists earned a median annual salary of $22,150 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, manicurists and pedicurists earned a 25th percentile salary of $19,910, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $26,440, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 126,300 people were employed in the U.S. as manicurists and pedicurists.
- Illinois General Assembly: Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985
- Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs: Limited Cosmetology License Requirements
- South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation: Licensing requirements for Cosmetologist, Esthetician or Nail Technician
- Beauty School Directory: Alabama Board of Cosmetology License Requirements
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011
- Kentucky Board of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists: Requirements for Licenses
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: How to Become a Manicurist or Pedicurist
- Online Practice Exam: About The Online Nail Technician/Manicurist Exams
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists
- Career Trend: Manicurists and Pedicurists
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