The average salary for a nail technician in California is around $36,630 per year.
Avg Salary
Nail technicians earn an average yearly salary of $36,630.
Wages typically start from $34,840 and go up to $47,260.
51% below national average Updated in 2025
Nail technician earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level nail technician earnings begin at:
$22.72 per hour
$47,260 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level nail technician earnings begin at:
$19.03 per hour
$39,590 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level nail technician earnings begin at:
$17.61 per hour
$36,630 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level nail technician earnings begin at:
$17.06 per hour
$35,480 per year
10th percentile
Starting level nail technician earnings begin at:
$16.75 per hour
$34,840 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 California. On average, they make less than sewing machine operators but more than amusement attendants.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Sewing machine operator salary | $38K |
| Shoemaker salary | $38K |
| Vehicle cleaner salary | $38K |
| Cashier salary | $37K |
| Host and hostess salary | $37K |
| Nail technician salary | $37K |
| Amusement attendant salary | $37K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)