- A nail technician, manicurist or pedicurist, will work only on nails. This may include giving manicures, pedicures or applying nail polish or nail extensions to a person.
- Many nail technicians work at least 40 hours a week, but if they are self-employed those hours can be longer. It is particularly common to find a nail technician staying late at night to accommodate clients who work a full day.
- Usually, at least a high school diploma or GED is required to become a nail technician. Vocational schools offer nail technician training, which will normally take less than nine months to complete.
- All states require a license to become a nail technician. Each state differs on the licensing requirements, but it is normally expected to have a high school diploma or equivalent and be at least 16 years of age. Certain training may be required for a license, such as a certification from a vocational school.
- The median hourly earnings for a nail technician is approximately $9.23. This, of course, does not include tips from clients. Some salons may offer bonuses for recruitment of new clients or other such things.











