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Nail technician schools
600 colleges and career schools report nail tech programs to IPEDS, with 14,442 completions in 2023-24.
Programs listed
613
all states
Middle program cost
$4,920
$3,495 to $7,450, IPEDS
Middle length
4 months
469 certificates, IPEDS
Median pay
$35,760
manicurists and pedicurists, BLS May 2025
On state WIOA lists
182
programs, U.S. DOL file
Nail Tech Schools by state
| State | Programs | Completions, 2023-24 | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4 | 66 | $30,300 |
| Arkansas | 10 | 92 | $27,690 |
| Arizona | 9 | 240 | $35,290 |
| California | 74 | 2,167 | $36,630 |
| Colorado | 8 | 117 | $37,110 |
| Connecticut | 2 | 74 | $34,720 |
| Delaware | 2 | 68 | $31,200 |
| Florida | 60 | 1,897 | $37,840 |
| Georgia | 15 | 299 | $26,910 |
| Hawaii | 1 | 6 | $60,790 |
| Iowa | 8 | 92 | $45,420 |
| Idaho | 11 | 265 | $34,910 |
| Illinois | 18 | 71 | $37,050 |
| Indiana | 13 | 249 | $36,140 |
| Kansas | 10 | 227 | $30,930 |
| Kentucky | 7 | 90 | $45,310 |
| Louisiana | 9 | 98 | $28,170 |
| Massachusetts | 3 | 192 | $35,470 |
| Maryland | 2 | 8 | $37,300 |
| Maine | 2 | 63 | $48,540 |
| Michigan | 23 | 298 | $36,890 |
| Minnesota | 8 | 77 | $36,040 |
| Missouri | 12 | 154 | $39,100 |
| Mississippi | 6 | 79 | $37,300 |
| Montana | 3 | 37 | $33,660 |
| North Carolina | 15 | 153 | $34,740 |
| North Dakota | 3 | 25 | $33,430 |
| New Jersey | 9 | 385 | $36,370 |
| New Mexico | 6 | 162 | $25,720 |
| Nevada | 8 | 475 | $41,880 |
| New York | 12 | 601 | $34,660 |
| Ohio | 33 | 710 | $35,590 |
| Oklahoma | 17 | 148 | $31,330 |
| Oregon | 15 | 180 | $46,080 |
| Pennsylvania | 21 | 313 | $27,990 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 35 | $34,910 |
| South Carolina | 4 | 100 | $33,810 |
| South Dakota | 3 | 30 | $45,310 |
| Tennessee | 15 | 316 | $34,810 |
| Texas | 55 | 1,171 | $34,040 |
| Utah | 14 | 861 | $28,820 |
| Virginia | 1 | None reported | $36,630 |
| Vermont | 1 | 17 | Not published |
| Washington | 11 | 354 | $49,900 |
| Wisconsin | 14 | 207 | $36,680 |
| West Virginia | 6 | 46 | $38,260 |
| Wyoming | 2 | 6 | Not published |
Programs counts IPEDS schools. Completions: IPEDS, the schools on the state page. Median pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual.
Nail tech programs on state WIOA lists: cost and results
| State | Programs | Middle listed cost | Completed | Employed, Q2 | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 8 | $8,722 | 78.6% | 100% | $5,250 |
| California | 18 | $4,000 | 86.5% | 70.3% | $8,840 |
| Colorado (DOL data note) | 3 | $3,769 | 81.2% | Fewer than 3 report it | Fewer than 3 report it |
| Iowa | 6 | $4,840 | 98.4% | 71.2% | $5,290 |
| Maryland | 6 | $3,150 | 99.8% | 54.9% | $7,296 |
| Michigan | 5 | $4,195 | Fewer than 3 report it | 52.4% | $4,557 |
| Minnesota | 8 | $2,658 | 80% | 68.2% | $5,303 |
| Nevada | 9 | $7,190 | 80% | 9.7% | $3,809 |
| Ohio | 15 | $3,000 | 94.8% | 72.7% | $6,668 |
| Tennessee | 4 | $8,070 | 74.4% | 63.3% | $4,014 |
| Utah | 4 | $1,755 | 90.5% | 18.5% | $6,160 |
| Washington | 26 | $7,950 | 83.3% | 66.7% | $7,740 |
| Wisconsin | 9 | $2,163 | 80% | 78.6% | $5,959 |
States with 3 or more nail tech programs on their eligible training provider list and at least one reported result. Completed: of all students who exited. Employed and earnings: the second quarter after exit, from state wage records. Each figure is the middle program of those that report it.
Nail tech length and pay in detail
- Program length
- Middle 4 months; half take 3 months to 5 months (469 certificate programs reporting a length to IPEDS). Clock-hour programs: 300 to 600 hours, middle 400.
- Pay for manicurists and pedicurists
- $35,760 a year ($17 an hour), national median, May 2025; the lowest-paid tenth earned under $28,920 (BLS OEWS).
- Programs, cost, length and completions: IPEDS complete data files, 2024-25 collection, read October 8, 2026.
- WIOA results: DOL TrainingProviderResults.gov program file (ETA-9171), read October 8, 2026.
- Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025, read October 8, 2026.
Campus groups with nail tech programs
- Paul Mitchell the School17 campuses · CA, CO, CT, ID, MI, MO, NV, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, WA
- The Salon Professional Academy10 campuses · CO, FL, ID, IN, MI, ND, NY, PA, WI
- Milan Institute8 campuses · CA, NV, TX
- Salon Success Academy6 campuses · CA
- Aveda Institute5 campuses · FL, ID, OH, WI
- Northwest College5 campuses · OR
- Academy of Hair Design4 campuses · MO, NV, TX
- La James International College4 campuses · IA
- Milan Institute of Cosmetology4 campuses · CA, NV, TX
- PJ's College of Cosmetology4 campuses · IN, KY
- Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc4 campuses · OH
- Summit Salon Academy4 campuses · IN, KY, OH, OR
- UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences4 campuses · TX
- Capri College3 campuses · IA
- Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology3 campuses · IL
- Modern Hairstyling Institute3 campuses · PR
- Texas College of Cosmetology3 campuses · TX
- Bellus Academy2 campuses · CA
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture2 campuses · IN
- Vogue College of Cosmetology2 campuses · TX
- Orange Technical College1 campus · FL
- Rob Roy Academy1 campus · MA
- Spa Tech Institute1 campus · ME
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology1 campus · TN
Campuses offering the program: IPEDS 2024.