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SOC 39-5092
On this page, manicurists and pedicurists refers to O*NET 39-5092.00: workers who clean and shape clients' fingernails and toenails and may polish or decorate them, including titles such as manicurist, nail technician, and pedicurist.
Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((75+25+0)/3+0.5)=33; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.
The core work of manicurists and pedicurists is to clean and shape clients' fingernails and toenails under hygienic conditions: clean and disinfect tools and the work area, use water and oil to soften cuticles, trim and file nails, apply base coat and color or decorations, and add extensions or reinforcing wraps when needed. They also assess hands and nail surfaces, advise on care and products, maintain supply inventories and service records, schedule appointments, and collect payments.
The following judgments concern the everyday service practices of manicurists and pedicurists. They do not predict hiring, licensing, qualification, or income outcomes.
Sample output and reflection: check whether needs and contraindications were confirmed first, cleaning and disinfection preceded service steps, safe use of equipment and chemicals was explained, and records and escalation routes were clear. Then ask yourself whether you can stand for long periods and repeat fine hand movements, maintain hygiene standards during peak appointments, and willingly explain care and products to clients.
On this page, manicurists and pedicurists refers to O*NET 39-5092.00: workers who clean and shape clients' fingernails and toenails and may polish or decorate them, including job titles such as manicurist, nail technician, and pedicurist. Work includes cleaning and disinfecting tools and the environment, treating cuticles, trimming and filing nails, applying base coat and color, adding extensions or reinforcing wraps, assessing hands and nail surfaces, advising on care and products, maintaining inventory and service records, scheduling appointments, and collecting payments. Work mainly takes place indoors in nail salons, salons, or client service settings. This page excludes adjacent occupations such as barbers; hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists; skincare specialists; and shampooers.
Career direction comparison
The following compares manicurists and pedicurists with adjacent roles by actual service subjects, core deliverables, and responsibility boundaries. Qualifications are not interchangeable based on titles.
| Career direction | Core work and output | Key differences | Best-fit choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbers | Barbers mainly provide haircuts, facial grooming, and shaving. Manicurists and pedicurists focus on cleaning, shaping, coloring, and decorating fingernails and toenails, using different tools on different service subjects. | Provide haircuts, facial grooming, and shaving. | Compare if you prefer haircuts and facial grooming. |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists provide haircuts, coloring, perms, and facial care. Manicurists and pedicurists focus on nail care and decoration. They may work in the same salon, but their authorizations and qualifications must be checked separately. |
AI impact on this career
Editorial task hypothesis: validated tools may assist with appointments, inventory records, or style references, while generative AI may draft communications using fictional material. Ordinary scheduling software is not equivalent to generative AI. This page has not obtained studies of AI adoption or job outcomes in nail services; product and health advice still requires human verification. AI Impact Score 33% is an editorial estimate. Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((75+25+0)/3+0.5)=33; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.The three tasks, ratings and sources are listed in the FermatMind method source record on this page.
FermatMind AI Impact Score estimation method v1
FermatMind / 费马测试 · 2026-10-18
Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Chinese mainland salary reference
Scope: the National Bureau of Statistics reports 2025 average annual wages for employees in services to households, repairs, and other services of 70,226 yuan / year in urban non-private units and 52,059 yuan / year in urban private units; the nationwide total for urban non-private units is 129,441 yuan / year. All are industry-level measures, not the median or starting pay for this occupation.
Category boundary: the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security publishes enterprise compensation survey information by occupation or position, which can be used to look up pay for household-service roles. This page did not obtain an entry matching O*NET 39-5092.00 exactly, so it is not used as a nationwide median for this occupation. Refer to the competent authority's publications for specifics.
Only average annual wages are published
U.S. salary reference
In 2025, the US nationwide median wage for this occupation was 35,760 dollars annually and 17.19 dollars hourly; P10 and P90 annual wages were 28,920 and 50,140 dollars, respectively. Older employment facts retain the 2024—2034 version; 24,800 is projected average annual openings, not a ten-year total. The latest BLS figures are 201,800 jobs in 2025, 9% growth in 2025—2035, and 21,900 average annual openings. Treat these versions separately.
| Percentile | Annual reference | Hourly equivalent | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| P10 | $28,920 / year | $13.90 / hour | Position in the 2025 US nationwide distribution for this occupation; not seniority or a conversion of individual working hours. |
Fit signals
To assess fit, first observe hygiene procedures, fine hand movements, communication about needs, and escalation of abnormalities. Check actual demands from prolonged sitting, repeated forward-leaning movements, and chemical exposure. Interest tools and paper exercises cannot establish physical tolerance, operational competence, or qualifications.
Positive signals： Positive signals: willingness to follow hygiene procedures, fine and steady hand movements, patience and attention to detail, willingness to communicate with clients, and the ability to recognize abnormalities and proactively escalate them.
Reasons for caution： Reasons for caution: if prolonged sitting or repeated fine movements cause discomfort, product contact or odors cause discomfort, or disinfection and pause procedures are difficult to maintain, first check the workstation and safety controls and seek an appropriate professional assessment. Do not explain health demands through personality labels.
Trial activity： Trial activity: using entirely fictional appointment and requirements records, rehearse service steps, disinfection procedures, and escalation boundaries, and ask someone else to review them against the records.
Risks and boundaries
Handle risks by their triggers, consequences, controls, and escalation boundaries.
Occupational tasks inform risk scenarios. OSHA nail salon documents support US biological and chemical exposure controls, and BLS supports state licensing pathways. Chinese requirements must be checked against the actual service location.
Typical scenario：Tools or workstations do not meet cleaning and disinfection requirements.
Roles most affected：Manicure and pedicure service roles
Possible consequence：May cause cross-infection or hygiene problems.
How to reduce risk：After every client, clean and disinfect tools, workstations, and footbaths according to local procedures and product instructions. A UV storage box is not equivalent to tool disinfection.
Entry pathways
O*NET Job Zone 1–2 describes preparation for an occupational group, not a uniform education requirement or training duration for nail technicians. BLS states that this occupation typically requires a state-approved cosmetology or nail program and a state examination for licensing. Check age, high-school education, and other specific requirements with the state authority.
Market signals
Older facts retain employment of 210,100 in 2024 and the 2024—2034 projections; 24,800 should be interpreted as average annual openings. The latest BLS figures are 201,800 in 2025, 9% growth in 2025—2035, and 21,900 average annual openings. These are statistical projections, not a hiring sample or an individual's probability of being hired.
US nationwide · Display scope: Manicurists and Pedicurists (39-5092.00)
The main industry on that page for 2024 is Other Services (Except Public Administration). Employment and openings are statistical projections and must be interpreted separately from individual opportunities.
Employment size and change
Employment size, change, and job openings must be interpreted separately.
Does not establish：Occupational statistics cannot guarantee individual employment.
On this page, manicurists and pedicurists refers to O*NET 39-5092.00: workers who clean and shape clients' fingernails and toenails and may polish or decorate them. Work includes cleaning and disinfecting tools and the environment, treating cuticles, trimming and filing nails, applying base coat and color, adding extensions or reinforcing wraps, assessing hands and nail surfaces, advising on care and products, maintaining inventory and service records, scheduling appointments, and collecting payments. Work mainly takes place indoors in nail salons or salons. This occupation is distinct from barbers; hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists; skincare specialists; and shampooers.
Choose a real task from this page for a small practice project or a conversation with someone in the field. Use the planning guides to set a date, an output and feedback questions before deciding whether to continue.
This is an entirely fictional manicure and pedicure service scenario check, not a personality diagnosis, hiring conclusion, or qualification assessment.
Entirely fictional task package: provide a fictional client service form and equipment list, including 1 appointment and requirements record, 1 equipment and disinfection checklist, and 1 scenario for observing nail conditions and contraindications. Within 60 minutes, write service steps, cleaning and disinfection procedures, matters to confirm with the client, circumstances requiring a pause and escalation, and records to retain. Do not use real client information.
Check first: the official occupational scope, actual employer requirements, education or training, local licensing and hygiene rules, supervised tasks, and safety boundaries for tools, chemicals, and clients.
End-to-end work: start by checking the appointment and requirements, then inspect nail conditions, clean and disinfect, trim and file, apply color and decoration, inspect the result, record the service, and collect payment. Do not start service until all hygiene and safety conditions are met, or continue until any nail or skin abnormality has been clarified.
| Dimension | Primary track | Comparison track |
|---|---|---|
| Complete workflow | From confirming needs to documenting delivery | |
| Step one | Check the appointment and requirements | |
| Step two | Inspect nail conditions and confirm contraindications | |
| Step three | Clean and disinfect tools and the workstation | |
| Step four | Treat cuticles, trim and file, and apply color | |
| Step five | Inspect the result and confirm it with the client | |
| Step six | Record the service and inventory and collect payment |
Inputs: clients' fingernails and toenails and their condition, appointment and requirements information, nail tools and disposable supplies, disinfectants and chemicals such as nail polish, solvents, powders, and polish remover, products and color charts, service and inventory records, and payment and appointment systems.
Checkable outputs: cleaned and shaped nails with completed color or decoration, disinfected tools and workstations, assessments and care advice for nail and hand conditions, service and inventory records, appointment and payment records, and explanations when referral or escalation is needed.
Complete workflow: check the appointment and requirements → inspect hands and nail surfaces and confirm contraindications → clean and disinfect tools and the workstation → treat cuticles and trim and file nails → apply base coat and color or decorations, with extensions or reinforcement when needed → inspect the result and confirm it with the client → record the service and inventory and collect payment.
In the United States, this occupation is in Job Zone 1-2 and typically requires a high-school diploma and on-the-job training, with licensing required in most states. Training or certification does not equal authorization to practice. This page does not judge an individual's eligibility.
Work subjects and AI boundaries for manicurists and pedicurists Editorial task hypothesis: validated tools may assist with appointments, inventory records, or style references, while generative AI may draft communications using fictional material. Ordinary scheduling software is not equivalent to generative AI. This page has not obtained studies of AI adoption or job outcomes in nail services; product and health advice still requires human verification.
| Provide haircuts, coloring, perms, and facial care. |
| Compare if you prefer hair and beauty services. |
| Skincare Specialists | Skincare specialists focus on analyzing and caring for facial skin; manicurists and pedicurists focus on nails and hands. Both should refer skin or nail abnormalities rather than treat them themselves. | Focus on facial skin analysis and care. | Compare if you prefer facial skincare. |
|---|
| Shampooers | Shampooers wash hair and care for the scalp; manicurists and pedicurists care for nails and hands. Their work focus and required licenses differ. | Wash hair and care for the scalp. | Compare if you prefer washing hair and caring for the scalp. |
|---|
First use reviewable service records to validate hygiene procedures, nail assessment, and service boundaries, then assess your direction. Do not assign a single ranking based on income or personality.
Next, turn the comparison into a small service exercise that can be stopped.
Describe only specific steps tools may assist; do not treat demonstrations as organizational adoption.
Check data sources, system reliability, and review responsibilities; this page has no occupation-specific adoption rate.
Without occupational job-outcome research, do not infer layoff timing, staffing changes, or hiring probability.
| Work area | Task | Current change | Human control point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments and records | Manage appointments and maintain service and inventory records | Editorial hypothesis: first test tool outputs using fictional appointment records. A software skills list does not demonstrate generative AI adoption or effectiveness. | Check client and product information. |
| Consultation and advice | Advise clients on care and products | May assist with drafting | Check product instructions, client information, and the service scope. Do not treat automated suggestions as a basis for diagnosis or infection management; human on-site judgment is still required. |
| Manicure and pedicure services | Clean, shape, color, and decorate nails | No automated decisions | On-site judgment by manicurists and pedicurists. |
| Hygiene and delivery | Clean and disinfect, and confirm the finished result | Cannot replace manual work and disinfection | Confirmed by the service provider and salon. |
Occupational sources describe the actual tasks and subjects involved: nails and hands, tools and disinfection, chemicals and products, appointments and records. Tool capabilities, organizational adoption, and job outcomes are recorded separately; wage or employment data is not used as AI evidence.
Editorial comparison: organizing information and drafting may receive assistance, but actual adoption depends on systems, data authorization, and review conditions. This does not permit omitting hands-on nail treatment or disinfection, or the associated responsibility.
AI primarily changesMay assist with scheduling and organizing records; the system must be validated.
Human responsibility remainsClient information checks
AI primarily changesMay assist with communication drafts; does not diagnose nail or skin conditions.
Human responsibility remainsOn-site judgment and responsibility
Human control points: confirm client needs and contraindications, assess nail and skin conditions, carry out cleaning and disinfection, use chemicals safely, take responsibility for the finished work and client safety, and comply with local licensing and hygiene rules.
Confirm client needs, contraindications, and authorized scope.
Provide services only within hygiene and safety boundaries.
Review nail conditions, products, and finished results.
Promptly refer and report abnormalities and matters beyond scope.
May affect client and practitioner health.
Control: Clean and disinfect tools and workstations according to procedures.
May cause discomfort or injury.
Control: Use according to labels and maintain ventilation.
May delay referral.
Control: Recognize abnormalities and refer within the service scope.
First practice with fictional records and hygiene procedures. Actual client contact or tool use requires training, supervision, and necessary authorization.
Retain service and disinfection records.
Establish hygiene and chemical safety procedures first.
Task exposure, adoption, and job outcomes measure different things and cannot establish a date for job cuts.
Source: O*NET 39-5092.00 TasksOriginal source ↗
Only hypotheses about potentially assisted tasks are listed; no occupational adoption or sequencing research was obtained. People remain responsible for disinfection and on-site service.
Source: O*NET 39-5092.00 TasksOriginal source ↗
There is no occupational adoption-rate source, so this page provides no such figures.
Source: O*NET 39-5092.00 Manicurists and Pedicurists (Summary)Original source ↗
First conduct an offline exercise using entirely fictional appointment and requirements records. Write service steps, disinfection procedures, chemical safety measures, and escalation boundaries without relying on unverified automated advice to replace on-site judgment.
Only average annual wages are published
Insufficient evidence: no safely matched distribution obtained
Insufficient evidence: exact occupational wages were not obtained. Industry averages provide only employer context for corresponding units and exclude individually owned businesses and freelancers.
| Role scope | Reference value | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Not separately tabulated | Hiring depends on the employer and position | National Bureau of Statistics wage statistics are organized by industry and registration type, not by education levels within this occupation. |
| Not separately tabulated | Hiring depends on the employer and position | National Bureau of Statistics wage statistics are organized by industry and registration type, not by education levels within this occupation. |
| Not separately tabulated | Hiring depends on the employer and position | National Bureau of Statistics wage statistics are organized by industry and registration type, not by education levels within this occupation. |
| Not separately tabulated | Hiring depends on the employer and position | National Bureau of Statistics wage statistics are organized by industry and registration type, not by education levels within this occupation. |
70,226 yuan / year
52,059 yuan / year
129,441 yuan / year
Insufficient evidence: no nationwide occupational median wage, reference period, or statistical scope was obtained for manicurists and pedicurists in mainland China. This page displays only an industry proxy labeled as such; neither proxy figures nor US figures fill the gap.
| P25 | $34,010 / year | $16.35 / hour | Position in the 2025 US nationwide distribution for this occupation; not seniority or a conversion of individual working hours. |
|---|
| P50 (median) | $35,760 / year | $17.19 / hour | Position in the 2025 US nationwide distribution for this occupation; not seniority or a conversion of individual working hours. |
|---|
| P75 | $41,650 / year | $20.03 / hour | Position in the 2025 US nationwide distribution for this occupation; not seniority or a conversion of individual working hours. |
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| P90 | $50,140 / year | $24.10 / hour | Position in the 2025 US nationwide distribution for this occupation; not seniority or a conversion of individual working hours. |
|---|
Wages · Median：$35,760 / year (2025)；O*NET 39-5092.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display)
Wages · Hourly median：$17.19 / hour (2025)；O*NET 39-5092.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display)
Wages · Lowest 10%：$28,920 / year (P10, 2025)；O*NET 39-5092.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display)
Wages · P90 percentile：$50,140 / year (P90, 2025)；O*NET 39-5092.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display)
Wages · Statistical scope：Manicurists and Pedicurists（39-5092.00）；O*NET 39-5092.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display)
2025 US nationwide annual / hourly wage percentiles for this occupation; not starting pay, seniority, or a promise of individual income.
Employment count in 2024, not the number of vacancies being recruited for.
Retains older 2024—2034 facts; the latest BLS2025—2035 version projects 9% growth and 21,900 average annual openings. Versions are not combined.
Listed as Other Services (Except Public Administration) under O*NET / BLS industry scope; does not equal income for all practitioners.
| Industry | Median hourly wage (dollars / hour) | How to interpret |
|---|---|---|
| Personal care services | $17.19 / hour | May 2025, employee wages for this occupation; not converted into individual annual income. |
| Other detailed employer industries | Insufficient evidence: not obtained | Wages cannot be inferred from broad industry shares of employers. |
| Self-employed service revenue | Outside OEWS employee wages | Business revenue, costs, and profit require separate accounting. |
| Regional industry breakdowns | Insufficient evidence: not obtained | The nationwide median is not substituted. |
In the United States, workers typically complete a state-approved cosmetology or nail program and pass a licensing examination. Check high-school and minimum-age requirements by state rather than substituting the Job Zone group description.
Check reviewable experience in hygiene, fine manual work, and client communication, along with target employer requirements. No comparison of the hiring weights of portfolios and certificates was obtained.
Strongly affected by the local beauty and nail market, customer traffic, and employment arrangements; do not extrapolate across regions.
Check with work samples rather than replacing judgment with labels.
The O*NET interest code is RC (Realistic–Conventional), emphasizing hands-on work and organizing information according to procedures. These labels describe activity preferences only and cannot determine competence or qualifications.
Do not use it this way: Hiring, qualifications, or performance cannot be inferred from this.
Start a career-interest trialCheck with work samples rather than replacing judgment with labels.
General personality measures such as the Big Five do not provide evidence about this occupation's job requirements and can only support self-reflection. Continue checking through actual experiences of manicure and pedicure work, client communication, and hygiene implementation.
Do not use it this way: Hiring, qualifications, or performance cannot be inferred from this.
Start a career-interest trialCheck with work samples rather than replacing judgment with labels.
Type-based tools such as MBTI and the Enneagram cannot determine competence or qualifications and can only support self-reflection.
Do not use it this way: Hiring, qualifications, or performance cannot be inferred from this.
Start a career-interest trialCheck with work samples rather than replacing judgment with labels.
Continue checking against real tasks, boundaries, and reviewable deliverables.
Do not use it this way: Hiring, qualifications, or performance cannot be inferred from this.
Start a career-interest trialCheck with work samples rather than replacing judgment with labels.
Continue checking against real tasks, boundaries, and reviewable deliverables.
Do not use it this way: Hiring, qualifications, or performance cannot be inferred from this.
Start a career-interest trialCheck with work samples rather than replacing judgment with labels.
Continue checking against real tasks, boundaries, and reviewable deliverables.
Do not use it this way: Hiring, qualifications, or performance cannot be inferred from this.
Start a career-interest trialFits better when: Can clean and disinfect tools and workstations according to procedures.
Watch for: Procedures and records must be checked.
Fits better when: Can treat cuticles and trim and file nails.
Watch for: Contraindications and skin conditions must be checked.
Fits better when: Can apply color, decorations, and extensions.
Watch for: Client needs and products must be checked.
Fits better when: Can confirm needs and explain care.
Watch for: Expectations and quotations must be checked.
Fits better when: Can use products safely according to labels.
Watch for: Ventilation and protection must be checked.
Fits better when: Can manage appointments and maintain records.
Watch for: Client information protection must be checked.
Use this page's work sample to check hygiene practices.
Check technique and steadiness against operational requirements.
Assess communication and risk-recognition skills.
Stop and refer first; do not treat it yourself.
Check against labels and ventilation requirements.
Assess pacing and prioritization skills.
Use service and disinfection records to enable review by others.
Complete an exercise using entirely fictional appointment and requirements records.
Evidence：OSHA Biological Hazards in Nail Salons
Typical scenario：Chemicals are not used according to labels, or ventilation is inadequate.
Roles most affected：Manicure and pedicure service roles
Possible consequence：May cause discomfort or injury to clients or practitioners.
How to reduce risk：First check labels and SDS, exhaust ventilation, and product-appropriate protection. Dust protection is not solvent vapor protection; select protection according to the employer's assessment.
Evidence：OSHA Chemical Hazards in Nail Salons
Typical scenario：Service continues despite unrecognized nail or skin abnormalities.
Roles most affected：Manicure and pedicure service roles
Possible consequence：May delay referral or worsen the problem.
How to reduce risk：Pause the relevant service when wounds, broken skin, or visible infection are present and refer according to procedures; do not diagnose or treat independently.
Evidence：OSHA Biological Hazards in Nail Salons
Typical scenario：Needs, results, and prices have not been agreed with the client.
Roles most affected：Client communication roles
Possible consequence：May cause disputes and negative reviews.
How to reduce risk：Confirm needs, expected results, and prices before service.
Evidence：O*NET 39-5092.00 Manicurists and Pedicurists (Summary)
Typical scenario：Independently serving clients and collecting payments at a location without the appropriate license or permit.
Roles most affected：Independent practice roles
Possible consequence：May violate local hygiene and practice rules.
How to reduce risk：Verify licenses and permits under local requirements.
Evidence：BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Manicurists and Pedicurists
Typical scenario：Overlapping peak-hour appointments and insufficient workstation and tool turnaround.
Roles most affected：Salon operations roles
Possible consequence：May affect hygiene and service quality.
How to reduce risk：Schedule appointments reasonably and allow time for disinfection and turnaround.
Evidence：O*NET 39-5092.00 Work Context
Typical scope：Entry stage: practice tool preparation and disinfection, cuticle care, trimming and filing, and basic color application under supervision. Learn hygiene and chemical safety procedures and retain process records.
Readiness evidence：Evidence to show: use a reviewable service record covering requirements confirmation, disinfection steps, finished results, and precautions to demonstrate the ability to follow hygiene procedures and document work accurately.
Credential boundary：Verify training and licensing requirements.
Next moves：Next step: check the target employer's hiring requirements, state or local licensing and hygiene rules, and products and tools used. Validate practical skills and client communication in real services under supervision.
Typical scope：Independently clean, shape, color, and decorate nails, with work subject to review.
Readiness evidence：Retain service and disinfection records.
Credential boundary：Verify licensing and employer requirements.
Next moves：Moving toward greater responsibility: with experience, workers may manage appointments and client relationships, train newcomers, oversee hygiene and quality standards, or move into nail salon operations, education, or products.
Typical scope：Handle complex designs, training, and quality checks.
Readiness evidence：Retain records of complex designs and training.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Add training and quality records.
Typical scope：Oversee hygiene standards and scheduling.
Readiness evidence：Retain standards and scheduling records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Add evidence of operations and hygiene management.
Typical scope：Assist with shampooing, care, and beauty services under supervision.
Readiness evidence：Retain records of assisted services.
Credential boundary：Verify training and licensing requirements.
Next moves：Add hair or beauty training.
Typical scope：Independently provide haircuts, coloring, perms, or facial care.
Readiness evidence：Retain service and portfolio records.
Credential boundary：Verify licensing requirements.
Next moves：Obtain the corresponding licenses and skills.
Typical scope：Handle complex styling and client relationships.
Readiness evidence：Retain styling and client records.
Credential boundary：Verify licensing requirements.
Next moves：Add client and portfolio evidence.
Typical scope：Oversee the team and service standards.
Readiness evidence：Retain team and standards records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Add evidence of management responsibility.
Typical scope：Assist with scheduling, inventory, and ordering under supervision.
Readiness evidence：Retain operations records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Build operations and cost knowledge.
Typical scope：Independently manage scheduling, inventory, and client relationships.
Readiness evidence：Retain operations and client records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Build cost and marketing knowledge.
Typical scope：Oversee business metrics and the team.
Readiness evidence：Retain business and team records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Build business and governance capabilities.
Typical scope：Oversee the training system and product direction.
Readiness evidence：Retain training and product records.
Credential boundary：Verify employer requirements.
Next moves：Add training and product evidence.
Confirm client needs, contraindications, and hygiene conditions.
Disinfect, shape, and apply color according to procedures.
Produce reviewable service and disinfection records.
Expand design and client responsibilities within the authorized scope.
US nationwide · Display scope: Manicurists and Pedicurists (39-5092.00)
About 24,800 openings / year (older version)
Projected average annual job openings
Average annual openings in the older 2024—2034 projection, including replacements; not a ten-year total or current recruitment count.
Does not establish：Cannot represent an individual's probability of being hired.
US nationwide · Display scope: Manicurists and Pedicurists (39-5092.00)
$35,760 / year
Median annual wage
The BLS 2025 OEWS nationwide median, not starting pay or take-home income.
Does not establish：The 2025 percentile table was obtained; these are employee wages, not self-employment business revenue.
These are capability relationships, not automatic promotions or credential waivers.
Transfers：Transferable capabilities: hygiene and disinfection procedures, fine hand skills, client communication and requirements confirmation, safe product and chemical use, appointment and inventory record management, aesthetic judgment, and attention to detail.
Build next：Moving into barbering requires additional training in cutting hair, shaving, blade hygiene, and styling hair and beards, along with service authorization in the target jurisdiction. Fine hand skills and client communication experience do not establish competence in barbering.
View career profileTransfers：Foundation in client communication and salon service.
Build next：Add haircutting, coloring, perming, and corresponding licensing.
View career profileTransfers：Foundation in hand skills and client service.
Build next：Add facial skincare and corresponding licensing.
View career profileTransfers：Foundation in salon service and experience.
Build next：Add hair and scalp cleaning, rinsing, product use, and workstation hygiene skills, and check local training and authorization requirements for the target role.
View career profileTransfers：Foundation in aesthetics and styling.
Build next：Add makeup and styling skills.
View career profileTransfers：Experience communicating about client needs and keeping service records; do not assume every nail technician has business management experience.
Build next：Add lodging front-desk and room operations, budgeting and check-in business, and hotel team management experience. Salon service experience cannot directly replace these.
View career profileBarbers cut hair and shave; hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists cut and color hair and provide facial care; skincare specialists focus on facial skin; shampooers focus on washing hair and the scalp. Manicurists and pedicurists focus on cleaning, shaping, coloring, and decorating fingernails and toenails. Compare service subjects, tools, licenses, and responsibility boundaries to distinguish them.
Observable signals: willingness to follow hygiene procedures, fine and steady hand movements, patience and attention to detail, willingness to communicate with clients, and the ability to recognize abnormalities and proactively escalate them. O*NET interest code RC describes activity preferences only and cannot determine competence or qualifications.
Tools for scheduling, records, and consultation questions may help manage appointments, maintain records, and draft care advice. People remain responsible for cleaning and shaping nails, applying color and decoration, cleaning and disinfection, and client communication. This page presents tool uses only as task hypotheses, not evidence of widespread organizational adoption.
Human responsibilities include confirming client needs and contraindications, assessing nail and skin conditions, carrying out cleaning and disinfection, using chemicals safely, taking responsibility for finished work and client safety, and complying with local licensing and hygiene rules.
The National Bureau of Statistics publishes average annual wages for urban-unit employees by industry category without separately listing this occupation, so a safely matched nationwide occupational median cannot be established. This page displays only industry proxies labeled as such: in 2025, residential services, repairs, and other services paid 70,226 yuan / year in urban non-private units and 52,059 yuan / year in urban private units, while the nationwide total for urban non-private units was 129,441 yuan / year. None equals this occupation's median or starting pay. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security's enterprise compensation survey information is provided as a lookup entry point.
The O*NET page displays a 2025 BLS OEWS median annual wage of 35,760 dollars, approximately 17.19 dollars / hour, for occupation 39-5092.00. That page does not display percentile wages. These are US nationwide statistics, not individual take-home income or starting pay.
In the United States, this occupation is in Job Zone 1-2 and typically requires a high-school diploma or GED, although some positions have no education requirement. On-the-job training ranges from several days to one year, and most states require licensing. Mainland China: there is no unified occupational qualification exactly corresponding to this O*NET occupation; check employer requirements and local hygiene and business administration rules.
Main risks include hygiene and infection control, chemical and ventilation exposure, handling nail and skin abnormalities, client communication and pricing disputes, and licensing and employment boundaries. Controls include cleaning and disinfection, using chemicals safely according to labels, referring abnormalities, clarifying quotations and employment relationships, and handling matters under local rules when needed. Check specific rules against employer procedures and applicable regulations.
O*NET cites BLS data showing about 210,100 employed in this occupation in 2024, projected growth much faster than average, at 7% or more, in 2024—2034, and about 24,800 job openings during the period. These are occupational statistics, not an individual's probability of being hired.
If you can patiently perform fine hand movements under hygiene standards and communicate with clients, a low-cost exercise using entirely fictional appointment and requirements records is worthwhile. Moving into hair services, skincare, or salon operations requires additional evidence of the relevant authorization, skills, and responsibilities.
Evidence for China, the United States, and individual organizations is presented separately. Conclusions on wages, employment, qualifications / licensing, safety, and AI must not be combined across scopes. The manicurists and pedicurists page provides occupational judgment and service practice information and does not replace local laws, hygiene standards, or other professional advice. Any statement of insufficient evidence means only that safely matched data was not established within a bounded search; proxies or memory are not used to fabricate figures.
FermatMind research workflow
2025 BLS OEWS wage data; accessed 2026-09-25
O*NET 39-5092.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display)
Limitations：Applies only to 39-5092.00 and the US market; does not establish a mapping to China.
Limitations：Task examples do not mean every position performs every task; they do not establish a mapping to China.
Limitations：US work context does not replace Chinese law or employer procedures.
Limitations：This page does not display percentile wages; the median does not represent starting pay or individual take-home income.
Limitations：Projections are not a hiring guarantee; much faster than average does not mean individual opportunities necessarily increase.
Limitations：Industry distribution signals employer settings, not projected growth or demand.
Limitations：The education distribution does not establish a mandatory requirement for every employer; it does not establish a mapping to China.
Limitations：Certification and training do not equal a scope of practice or employer hiring; check the applicable jurisdiction.
Limitations：Task exposure does not equal implemented automation, adoption, or layoffs; individual outcomes are not inferred.
Limitations：Industry averages are not occupational medians and exclude individually owned businesses and freelancers; no nationwide wage distribution matching the exact occupation was established.
Limitations：Covers urban enterprises, excluding government agencies and public institutions; this page did not obtain an exact occupational match and does not use it as a nationwide median.
Limitations：An editorial scale is not evidence of adoption rates, layoffs, regulations, or licensing.
Limitations：US material; does not establish Chinese qualifications or actual adoption rates across all positions.
Limitations：US material; does not establish Chinese qualifications or actual adoption rates across all positions.
Limitations：US material; does not establish Chinese qualifications or actual adoption rates across all positions.
Limitations：Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Check source scope, limitations, and statistical periods separately against the original evidence. Source usage notes: O*NET 39-5092.00 Manicurists and Pedicurists (Summary): provides occupational identity, the official description, interest code, Job Zone, skills, and knowledge for 39-5092.00. Wage and employment data on that page cover this occupation. O*NET 39-5092.00 Tasks: provides tasks such as cleaning and disinfection, cuticle treatment, trimming and filing, color and decoration, assessing hands, giving advice, maintaining inventory and records, scheduling appointments, and collecting payments. Task examples do not mean every position performs every task. O*NET 39-5092.00 Work Context: describes controlled indoor environments, exposure to contaminants, repetitive hand movements, responsibility for others' health and safety, and other contexts. US work context does not replace Chinese law or employer procedures. O*NET 39-5092.00 National Wages (BLS OEWS Display): 2025 BLS OEWS median wages, covering this occupation. This page does not display percentile wages. O*NET 39-5092.00 National Employment Trends: employment in 2024 and projections for growth and job openings in 2024—2034. Projections are not a hiring guarantee. Industries: 39-5092.00: the main industry on that page for 2024 is Other Services (Except Public Administration). Industry distribution signals employer settings, not projected growth or demand. O*NET 39-5092.00 Education and Occupational Preparation: Job Zone 1-2; a high-school diploma or GED is typically required, on-the-job training ranges from several days to one year, and most states require licensing. Education distribution does not establish mandatory requirements for every employer. Licenses & Certifications: 39-5092.00: O*NET provides state licensing and national certification lookup entry points. Certification and training do not equal authorization to practice or employer hiring requirements. Generative AI and Jobs (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025): assesses occupational exposure to generative AI at the task level. An exposure index is not an adoption rate, job outcome, or hiring probability. Average Annual Wages of Employees in Urban Units in 2025: provides average annual wages by industry category for urban non-private and private units, including residential services, repairs, and other services. Industry averages are not occupational medians and exclude individually owned businesses and freelancers. Enterprise Compensation Survey Information (2024): the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security's enterprise compensation survey information provides a pay lookup entry point by occupation / position. Covers urban enterprises, excluding government agencies and public institutions; this page did not obtain an exact occupational match. FermatMind Task Impact Scale for Manicurists and Pedicurists: organizes potentially assisted tasks and human control points for task-level AI and fit discussions. An editorial scale is not evidence of adoption rates, layoffs, regulations, or licensing.
