What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Manicurists and Pedicurists in the U.S. earn more than $35,760 a year — the middle 80% land between $28,920 and $50,140. About 152,770 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Manicurists and Pedicurists”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Service and sales workers earn about ₹15,575 a month on average — around ₹1.9 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$35,760typical pay / year
152,770people in this work
$50,140+top 10% earn
₹1.9 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Make3
Apply polish
+Apply a classic pink polish to Maria's hands after her soak and cuticle work, three thin even coats with a…
Apply polish
+Apply a classic pink polish to Maria's hands after her soak and cuticle work, three thin even coats with a quick-dry topcoat, tell her how to avoid chips and set a 48-hour no-wash window for best cure.
The tools that do the workDaySmart Software Salon IrisESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Cut fingernails
+Safely trim Daniel's fingernails to just past the fingertip, file the edges smooth, check for hangnails or…
Cut fingernails
+Safely trim Daniel's fingernails to just past the fingertip, file the edges smooth, check for hangnails or uneven cuticles, and advise him to keep nails short for his keyboard-heavy work.
The tools that do the workAppointmentQuest Online Appointment SchedulerESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Style and shape finger and toe nails
+Shape and balance both fingernails and toenails for Lila into a soft square, remove rough edges, check her…
Style and shape finger and toe nails
+Shape and balance both fingernails and toenails for Lila into a soft square, remove rough edges, check her toe shape for pressure points, then show her the shape in the light and confirm she's happy.
The tools that do the workCustomer information databasesjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Keeping the record1
Maintain tools and supplies
+Sterilise the clippers, buffers and files, restock acetone, cotton and topcoats, discard single-use items…
Maintain tools and supplies
+Sterilise the clippers, buffers and files, restock acetone, cotton and topcoats, discard single-use items used today, and update the supplies log so we reorder glue and base coat before weekend bookings.
The tools that do the workAknaf ADVANTAGE Salon Software and Spajob descriptionsO*NET
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Care1
Massage hands and feet
+Give Priya a ten-minute hand and forearm massage with warming lotion after her manicure, use medium pressure…
Massage hands and feet
+Give Priya a ten-minute hand and forearm massage with warming lotion after her manicure, use medium pressure along the flexor muscles, finish with cuticle oil and tell her to avoid heavy lifting for an hour.
The tools that do the workDaySmart Software Appointment-Plusjob descriptionsO*NET
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Convincing1
Recommend nail care products
+Recommend three at-home products to Jenna: a strengthening base, cuticle oil for daily use and an…
Recommend nail care products
+Recommend three at-home products to Jenna: a strengthening base, cuticle oil for daily use and an acetone-free polish remover, explain when to use each and write usage instructions for her to follow between appointments.
The tools that do the workFacebookESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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The daily work12
Shape nails
+Shape and file the client's nails to a comfortable length and the requested silhouette, check each nail for…
Shape nails
+Shape and file the client's nails to a comfortable length and the requested silhouette, check each nail for even edge and curve, smooth the free edge, then buff lightly so polish will adhere without thinning the plate.
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Schedule client appointments and accept payments.
+Block my chair calendar for next week, confirm appointments that requested gel sets, record deposits or card…
Schedule client appointments and accept payments.
+Block my chair calendar for next week, confirm appointments that requested gel sets, record deposits or card payments as received, send SMS reminders to Thursday and Saturday clients, and mark unpaid walk-ins for follow-up.
The tools that do the workAppointment SearchCustomer information databasesO*NET
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Treat nails to repair or improve strength and resilience by wrapping.
+Assess Maria’s peeling, weak nails and perform a wrap treatment to strengthen tips, select fiberglass with…
Treat nails to repair or improve strength and resilience by wrapping.
+Assess Maria’s peeling, weak nails and perform a wrap treatment to strengthen tips, select fiberglass with resin, file to shape, set under lamp, record products used and aftercare advice in her file.
The tools that do the workDaySmart Software Salon IrisO*NET
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Use chemicals on nails and skin
+Review James’s allergy history, perform a patch test, then apply chemical treatment for cuticle softening and…
Use chemicals on nails and skin
+Review James’s allergy history, perform a patch test, then apply chemical treatment for cuticle softening and nail prep using acetone sparingly, record reaction or tolerance and update his client notes.
The tools that do the workCustomer information databasesjob descriptions
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Apply overlays or extensions
+Consult with Lily on length and look, fit and sculpt acrylic overlays to match her nail beds, blend the…
Apply overlays or extensions
+Consult with Lily on length and look, fit and sculpt acrylic overlays to match her nail beds, blend the cuticle line, finish with buff and top coat, photograph the result and save procedure notes to her file.
The tools that do the workDaySmart Software Appointment-PlusWikipedia
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Shape fingernails
+File and shape Tom’s nails to a rounded square, remove hangnails, lightly buff surface, check length against…
Shape fingernails
+File and shape Tom’s nails to a rounded square, remove hangnails, lightly buff surface, check length against his job needs, record shape preference in his profile and note next recommended visit in two weeks.
The tools that do the workCustomer information databasesESCO
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Sell specialised products
+Offer the specialised cuticle oil, strengthening base coat and acetone-free remover to Maria after her…
Sell specialised products
+Offer the specialised cuticle oil, strengthening base coat and acetone-free remover to Maria after her pedicure, explain benefits and application, note her product preference and purchase on her client profile before she leaves today.
The tools that do the workCustomer information databasesESCO
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Apply nail polish
+Prepare Maria's hands for a classic polish: remove old polish, shape nails to her requested square-oval, push…
Apply nail polish
+Prepare Maria's hands for a classic polish: remove old polish, shape nails to her requested square-oval, push and trim cuticles safely, apply base coat, two thin color coats, then top coat, and set a five-minute dry reminder for her.
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Advise customers on usage of cosmetics
+After checking Maria's nail history and allergies, explain how to use the strengthening serum, how often to…
Advise customers on usage of cosmetics
+After checking Maria's nail history and allergies, explain how to use the strengthening serum, how often to apply it, when to stop before a gel soak, and write simple home-care steps on a card for her to take away.
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Cosmetic skin treatment
+Give Maria a soothing paraffin and scrub treatment for dry hands: assess skin condition, perform a gentle…
Cosmetic skin treatment
+Give Maria a soothing paraffin and scrub treatment for dry hands: assess skin condition, perform a gentle exfoliation, apply paraffin for ten minutes, finish with hydrating lotion and record the treatment and any reactions in her record.
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Identify customer's needs
+Ask Maria about her daily activities, past nail services, any sensitivities and her desired look, then…
Identify customer's needs
+Ask Maria about her daily activities, past nail services, any sensitivities and her desired look, then recommend three realistic options with price and timing so she can choose the best fit for her schedule.
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Customer databases
+Update the customer databases with three new clients from today's walk-ins, add services taken, phone,…
Customer databases
+Update the customer databases with three new clients from today's walk-ins, add services taken, phone, preferred technician Elena, and note gel polish allergy before closing the books at 7pm.
The tools that do the workCustomer information databasesO*NET
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Says who?
These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses