Manicurists and Pedicurists

Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.

Median Annual Wage: $19,620

Projected Growth: Faster than average (15% to 21%)

Related Job Titles: Nail Technician; Manicurist; Pedicurist

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Manicurists and Pedicurists.

More Personal Care and Service Careers

  • Apply undercoat and clear or colored polish onto nails with brush.
  • Maintain supply inventories and records of client services.
  • Shape and smooth ends of nails, using scissors, files, or emery boards.
  • Prepare nail cuticles with water and oil, using cuticle knives to push back cuticles and scissors or nippers to trim cuticles.
  • Prepare customers' nails in soapy water, using swabs, files, and orange sticks.
  • Remove previously applied nail polish, using liquid remover and swabs.
  • Use rotary abrasive wheels to shape and smooth nails or artificial extensions.
  • Schedule client appointments and accept payments.
  • Assess the condition of clients' hands, remove dead skin, and massage hands.
  • Roughen surfaces of fingernails, using abrasive wheel.
  • Advise clients on nail care and use of products and colors.
  • Treat nails to repair or improve strength and resilience by wrapping.
  • Extend nails using powder, solvent, and paper forms attached to tips of customers' fingers to support and shape artificial nails.
  • Polish nails, using powdered polish and buffer.
  • Whiten underside of nails with white paste or pencils.
  • Promote and sell nail care products.
  • Decorate clients' nails by piercing or attaching ornaments or designs.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Manicurists and Pedicurists.

  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Manicurists and Pedicurists.

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