The average salary for a nail technician in the United States is around $35,760 per year.
Avg Salary
Nail technicians earn an average yearly salary of $35,760.
Wages typically start from $28,920 and go up to $50,140.
45% below national average Updated in 2025
Nail technician earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level nail technician earnings begin at:
$24.10 per hour
$50,140 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level nail technician earnings begin at:
$20.03 per hour
$41,650 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level nail technician earnings begin at:
$17.19 per hour
$35,760 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level nail technician earnings begin at:
$16.35 per hour
$34,010 per year
10th percentile
Starting level nail technician earnings begin at:
$13.90 per hour
$28,920 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Nail technician salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $60,790 |
| Nebraska | $56,940 |
| Washington | $49,900 |
| Maine | $48,540 |
| Alaska | $47,890 |
| Oregon | $46,080 |
| Iowa | $45,420 |
| Kentucky | $45,310 |
| South Dakota | $45,310 |
| Nevada | $41,880 |
| Missouri | $39,100 |
| West Virginia | $38,260 |
| Florida | $37,840 |
| Maryland | $37,300 |
| Mississippi | $37,300 |
| Colorado | $37,110 |
| Illinois | $37,050 |
| Michigan | $36,890 |
| Wisconsin | $36,680 |
| California | $36,630 |
| Virginia | $36,630 |
| District of Columbia | $36,620 |
| New Jersey | $36,370 |
| Indiana | $36,140 |
| Minnesota | $36,040 |
| Ohio | $35,590 |
| Massachusetts | $35,470 |
| Arizona | $35,290 |
| New Hampshire | $35,100 |
| Idaho | $34,910 |
| Rhode Island | $34,910 |
| Tennessee | $34,810 |
| North Carolina | $34,740 |
| Connecticut | $34,720 |
| New York | $34,660 |
| Texas | $34,040 |
| South Carolina | $33,810 |
| Montana | $33,660 |
| North Dakota | $33,430 |
| Oklahoma | $31,330 |
| Delaware | $31,200 |
| Kansas | $30,930 |
| Alabama | $30,300 |
| Utah | $28,820 |
| Louisiana | $28,170 |
| Pennsylvania | $27,990 |
| Arkansas | $27,690 |
| Georgia | $26,910 |
| New Mexico | $25,720 |
| Wyoming | $21,530 |
| Puerto Rico | $19,200 |
How do nail technician salaries compare to similar careers?
Nail technicians earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than florists but more than hand sewers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Florist salary | $37K |
| Receptionist salary | $38K |
| Library assistant salary | $37K |
| Shoemaker salary | $38K |
| Janitor salary | $37K |
| Nail technician salary | $36K |
| Recreation worker salary | $37K |
| Sewing machine operator salary | $37K |
| Retail salesperson salary | $35K |
| Hand sewer salary | $36K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)