Nail Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Nail Specialist make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Nail Specialist in the United States is $23,785 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $11.

However, a Nail Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $28,621
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $21,755 to $26,316
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $19,907
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View as table View as graph 25% $21,755 10% $19,907 90% $28,621 75% $26,316 $23,785 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Nail Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $26,316 $2,193 $506 $13
Average $23,785 $1,982 $457 $11
25th Percentile $21,755 $1,813 $418 $10
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Key Factors That Influence Nail Specialist Salaries

A Nail Specialist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Nail Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Nail Specialist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $23,588
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $23,644
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $23,870
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $24,208
  • Expert (over 8 years): $25,155
Levels Salary
Entry Level Nail Specialist$23,588
Intermediate Level Nail Specialist$23,644
Senior Level Nail Specialist$23,870
Specialist Level Nail Specialist$24,208
Expert Level Nail Specialist$25,155
$23,588 0 yr
$23,644 < 2 yrs
$23,870 2-4 yrs
$24,208 5-8 yrs
$25,155 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Nail Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Nail Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $26,335.
  • California: $26,235.
  • Massachusetts: $25,886.

Top Paying Cities for Nail Specialists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $30,000
  • San Francisco: $29,705
  • Oakland: $29,047

What Skills Can Increase a Nail Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 25.7% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Algorithms (Mentioned in 1.02% Job Postings): Algorithms act as an exact list of instructions that conduct specified actions step by step in either hardware- or software-based routines.
  • Hospitality Industry (Mentioned in 0.51% Job Postings): The hospitality industry is a broad category of fields within the service industry that includes lodging, food and drink service, event planning, theme parks, travel and tourism.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 25.7%
Algorithms 1.02%
Hospitality Industry 0.51%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Nail Specialist's salary.
  • Infection Control: Can increase your salary by up to 34%.
  • Generosity: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
  • Organizational Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Infection Control
$31,872
34%
Generosity
$30,207
27%
Organizational Skills
$30,207
27%
Guest Service
$29,256
23%
Verbal Communication
$28,780
21%
Empowerment
$28,542
20%
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Nail Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Nail Specialist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Nail Specialist

Salaries for a Nail Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $46,985 in 2023 to around $46,601 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Nail Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Nail Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$46,985
2024
$47,356
2025
$46,601
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $46,985
2024 $47,356
2025 $46,601
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Nail Specialist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Nail Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Nail Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Nail Specialist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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