Many people love connecting with others and offering services that make their clients feel good about themselves, so working in the beauty sector appeals to them.
Working as a nail technician, commonly known as a nail tech, is one such job option.
How much do nail techs make and which city pays them the most? This is a common question among those pursuing a career in this field.
According to ZipRecruiter, Sunnyvale, CA, pays 24.7% more salary to Nail Technicians as compared to their average national pay.
In this post, we’ll look at how much a nail technician makes and its qualifications, what to do, and other details.
Summary
| Guide | How Much Nail Technicians Make? |
|---|---|
| Average Income | $34,736 per year |
| Highest Income | $40,000 – $45,000 per year |
| Qualification | High school certificate |
| Training | Needed |
Who Are Nail Technicians?
A nail technician, often known as a nail tech, is a specialist who uses different ways to care for the nails on people’s hands and feet.
They trim and shape the nails, remove old polish, care for the nail beds, massage the hands, and apply nail polish.
Clients frequently want nail art or distinctive embellishments to paint on their fingernails and toes, so nail techs must be creative.
A nail tech is also known as a manicurist; however, many do not use this term too much anymore because most manicurists also offer pedicures, which can lead to confusion.
In order to protect their clients from infections and other serious health issues, nail technicians must keep their work environment clean.
They must clean their equipment correctly between sessions, sterilize the nail stations where they operate and follow any nail salon health ordinances.
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How Much Do Nail Technicians Make?
The pay of a nail technician varies depending on where they work.
You may have to pay for chair rental in certain salons, but freelance nail technicians can determine their own pricing.
Some salons may give you an annual salary, while others will pay you hourly. Salary levels at high-end spas may be higher.
The national average wage for nail technicians is $16.70 per hour or $34,736 per year for individuals working 40 hours per week.
Salaries, on the other hand, differ significantly between states.
Becoming a nail technician on the side of another work may also be a fantastic way to supplement your income and is a flexible career option.
1. How Much Do Nail Technicians Make an Hour?
Nail Technicians make a minimum of $7.45 an hour and a maximum of $31.25 an hour.
2. How Much Do Nail Technicians Make a Month?
Nail Technicians make a minimum of $1,292 a month and a maximum of $5,417 a month.
3. How Much Do Nail Technicians Make a Year?
Nail Technicians make a minimum of $15,500 a year and a maximum of $65,000 a year.
Highest Salary Of Nail Technicians In 2023
According to your expertise and which state you work in, if you are working in a saloon, your annual salary, according to the records on the internet, could go as high as between $40,000 and $45,000.
However, this number is only for nail technicians on a salary. If you are working as a freelancer, you have the right to set your own rates depending on your skillset.
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Is Being A nail Technician Good Or Bad?
You’ll work a range of hours if you work as a nail tech in a conventional setting, such as a salon or spa.
Because you work with the public, many of these hours will be in the evenings and on weekends.
You have the option of working a complete eight-hour shift or a part-time schedule.
This means that being a nail technician is not only about having the patience to deal with customers of a variety of backgrounds; you also need to work weird hours to get the best amount of clients, weekends, late evenings, or even maybe early morning.
If you can handle this kind of work schedule, being a nail technician is a good job for you, but if you can’t, a nail technician could be a poor choice for you.
Pros and Cons of Being A Nail Technician
Pros
- Flexibility
- You can start your own studio
- In demand
- Work-life balance
Cons
- Dealing with difficult clients
- Low pay
- Low job security
Nail Technician Mistakes to Avoid
How To Become A Nail Technician?
Here’s how you can become a Nail Technician:
- A nail tech must have particular abilities and finish a GED or school diploma and have the necessary certification.
- The next step is to register and complete the cosmetology course, which will take 4-8 months.
- Most states require you to have a license to work as a Nail technician. So you will have to get a license next.
- Post training and certification, you are required to develop communication skills. They should be able to communicate well with customers to understand their wants and aspirations. They must also have excellent interpersonal skills because they engage with others during their shifts.
- Now you can start applying to work as a Nail Technician.
How Many Hours Does Nail Technician Work?
Nail technicians have a good work-life balance, and their job is less stressful.
Full-time technicians work for 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. However, they can choose to work even part-time for 4 hours in a day.
What is the Starting Pay of Nail Technician?
The starting pay of a Nail Technician is $7.45 an hour or $15,500 a year. With more experience as a Nail Technician, you can make as much as $65,000 a year.
Also, if you have investment, then you can start your own Nail Technician studio and make a lot.
Nail Technician Training Programs
Because each state has its own education and licensing standards, aspiring technicians must complete an authorized curriculum based on the jurisdiction in which they wish to work.
Applicants must be not younger than 16 years of age and have a GED or high school diploma to be considered for most programs.
Aspiring technicians must finish an approved curriculum specific to the state in which they wish to work.
As each state has its own set of educational and licensing requirements.
You’ll learn more about the art and design behind manicures and pedicures, as well as the fundamental techniques, in a nail tech education program.
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Conclusion
We have seen who nail technicians are, what they do, their training programs, required qualifications, and how much they earn.
Even though it is a complex job and requires a lot of things from you, if you like to handle these issues, the pay is in accordance with what it takes to do this job.
Not a bad salary and not a really bad job if you like it enough.
FAQ
How much do nail technicians make when they have their own saloon?
This has a lot of different factors to consider, where the saloon is, how many regular customers it has, how many people work there, and so on.
However, there is a potential of earning a lot of money if you are successful enough.
How much do nail technicians make when they start?
As you can imagine, the inexperienced nail technicians make lower than the average, but this all depends on how good you are at your job and how fast you can get better. In no time, you might reach the average salary level.
Does it differ how much do nail technicians make when they do freelance?
Doing freelance is all about how much you want to work and how many customers you can attract.
If you can attract a lot and are willing to work more hours, you can earn more than the average.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
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