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.
Keeping the record6
Apply polish
+Apply a classic red polish to Maria’s natural nails after a quick oil and buff, check there are no chips,…
Apply polish
+Apply a classic red polish to Maria’s natural nails after a quick oil and buff, check there are no chips, finish with two thin coats and topcoat curing so she can leave in twenty minutes without smudges.
The tools that do the workDaySmart Software Salon IrisESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Cut fingernails
+Cut Thomas’s fingernails to safe, even length with rounded corners for his office job, file lightly to remove…
Cut fingernails
+Cut Thomas’s fingernails to safe, even length with rounded corners for his office job, file lightly to remove snags, brush off debris and confirm he’s comfortable with the shape before sending him back to work.
The tools that do the workAppointment SearchESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Style and shape finger and toe nails
+Shape Emily’s fingernails to almond on her hands and square on toes, remove excess length, blend the free…
Style and shape finger and toe nails
+Shape Emily’s fingernails to almond on her hands and square on toes, remove excess length, blend the free edge into the curve, buff to smoothness and show her the profile before polish.
The tools that do the workAknaf ADVANTAGE Salon Software and Spajob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Maintain tools and supplies
+Sanitise and inspect all clippers, files and pushers, replace three worn files and reorder acetone and cotton…
Maintain tools and supplies
+Sanitise and inspect all clippers, files and pushers, replace three worn files and reorder acetone and cotton so the station is stocked to handle the afternoon bookings without interruption.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Massage hands and feet
+Give Mrs. Alvarez a ten-minute therapeutic hand and foot massage using cooling lotion, focus on wrist and…
Massage hands and feet
+Give Mrs. Alvarez a ten-minute therapeutic hand and foot massage using cooling lotion, focus on wrist and ankle tension, check pressure at the start and end with a brief stretch routine she can do at home.
The tools that do the workCustomer information databasesjob descriptionsO*NET
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Recommend nail care products
+Suggest three nail-care products to Priya based on her dry cuticles and weak nails: a cuticle oil with…
Recommend nail care products
+Suggest three nail-care products to Priya based on her dry cuticles and weak nails: a cuticle oil with vitamin E, a protein-strengthening base coat, and a daily hand cream; explain application, frequency and cost, and note her preferred scent.
The tools that do the workCustomer information databasesESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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The daily work10
Shape nails
+Shape Jessica's nails to a natural almond profile, file each to 3mm free edge, buff ridges smooth, check…
Shape nails
+Shape Jessica's nails to a natural almond profile, file each to 3mm free edge, buff ridges smooth, check length symmetry against her thumb, remove dust, and confirm she can type and close her hand comfortably before polish.
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Maintain supply inventories and records of client services.
+Update inventory counts for acetone, base coats, gels, files and disposable tools, record client services…
Maintain supply inventories and records of client services.
+Update inventory counts for acetone, base coats, gels, files and disposable tools, record client services from the week with dates and technician initials, flag low-stock items for reorder before Saturday so appointments aren’t disrupted.
The tools that do the workCustomer information databasesO*NET
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Schedule client appointments and accept payments.
+Block available slots for returning clients, enter new bookings with service type and price, record deposits…
Schedule client appointments and accept payments.
+Block available slots for returning clients, enter new bookings with service type and price, record deposits or full payments at checkout and email a confirmation receipt to the client before their scheduled time.
The tools that do the workAppointmentQuest Online Appointment SchedulerO*NET
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Treat nails to repair or improve strength and resilience by wrapping.
+Prepare client chart, choose appropriate wrap material and adhesive, document nail condition, perform…
Treat nails to repair or improve strength and resilience by wrapping.
+Prepare client chart, choose appropriate wrap material and adhesive, document nail condition, perform wrapping to reinforce weak nails, note aftercare and next check-in date in the client file.
The tools that do the workDaySmart Software Salon IrisO*NET
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Use chemicals on nails and skin
+Confirm client allergies and patch-test results, measure and mix chemical products to instructed ratios,…
Use chemicals on nails and skin
+Confirm client allergies and patch-test results, measure and mix chemical products to instructed ratios, apply treatments following safety times, record product lot numbers and any reactions in the client record.
The tools that do the workCustomer information databasesjob descriptions
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Apply overlays or extensions
+Assess natural nail health, select appropriate overlay or extension style and length, apply and cure layers…
Apply overlays or extensions
+Assess natural nail health, select appropriate overlay or extension style and length, apply and cure layers to a smooth finish, photograph result and add service details and price to the client record.
The tools that do the workAknaf ADVANTAGE Salon Software and SpaWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Shape fingernails
+Inspect nail shape preference, file and buff to the requested silhouette, refine edges and finish with oil…
Shape fingernails
+Inspect nail shape preference, file and buff to the requested silhouette, refine edges and finish with oil and polish if requested, note final shape and client satisfaction in their service history.
The tools that do the workDaySmart Software Appointment-PlusESCO
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Apply nail polish
+Prepare Claire's station, remove old polish, shape her nails, apply base, two coats of her chosen coral…
Apply nail polish
+Prepare Claire's station, remove old polish, shape her nails, apply base, two coats of her chosen coral polish and a glossy topcoat, check dryness under a lamp and ask if she wants a quick hand massage before she leaves.
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Advise customers on usage of cosmetics
+After checking Claire's skin sensitivity and daily routine, explain how to use the hydrating hand cream and…
Advise customers on usage of cosmetics
+After checking Claire's skin sensitivity and daily routine, explain how to use the hydrating hand cream and cuticle oil twice daily, warn about perfume and ingredient reactions, and note her tolerance and application preferences on her profile.
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Identify customer's needs
+Talk Claire through her nail history, recent products and lifestyle, identify brittle nails from filing and…
Identify customer's needs
+Talk Claire through her nail history, recent products and lifestyle, identify brittle nails from filing and acetone overuse, recommend a fortnightly strengthener plan plus biweekly manicures and log the agreed plan in her file.
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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.
The rest of the map
Same library, five ways in.
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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