Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary
The median pay for a manicurists and pedicurists in Erie, PA is $28,100/year ($13.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $18K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.95), which stretches that salary to about $30,896 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,212/month, about 59.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $28K get you in Erie?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Erie’s Regional Price Parity (90.95). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About manicurists and pedicurists
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What this looks like in Erie
Pay for manicurists and pedicurists in Erie runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $36K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,212/month, which is 61.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.95 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for manicurists and pedicuristss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for manicurists and pedicurists in metros near Erie, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $31K | $30K |
| Pittsburgh | $29K | $30K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $30K | $30K |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $29K | $30K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Erie, PA
Entry-level manicurists and pedicurists (10th percentile) start around $18K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Manicurists and Pedicurists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Manicurists and Pedicurists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $61K | +70% | 40 |
| Nebraska | $57K | +59% | 310 |
| Washington | $50K | +40% | 5,570 |
| Maine | $49K | +36% | 200 |
| Alaska | $48K | +34% | 180 |
| Oregon | $46K | +29% | 2,210 |
| Iowa | $45K | +27% | 190 |
| South Dakota | $45K | +27% | 250 |
| Kentucky | $45K | +27% | 240 |
| Nevada | $42K | +17% | 1,020 |
| Missouri | $39K | +9% | 1,630 |
| West Virginia | $38K | +7% | 120 |
| Florida | $38K | +6% | 4,470 |
| Mississippi | $37K | +4% | 520 |
| Maryland | $37K | +4% | 2,080 |
| Colorado | $37K | +4% | 3,970 |
| Illinois | $37K | +4% | 2,470 |
| Michigan | $37K | +3% | 1,020 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | +3% | 2,350 |
| California | $37K | +2% | 39,210 |
| Virginia | $37K | +2% | 4,230 |
| District of Columbia | $37K | +2% | N/A |
| New Jersey | $36K | +2% | 11,520 |
| Indiana | $36K | +1% | 510 |
| Minnesota | $36K | +1% | 3,260 |
| Ohio | $36K | -0% | 3,680 |
| Massachusetts | $35K | -1% | 4,660 |
| Arizona | $35K | -1% | 2,440 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | -2% | 490 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | -2% | N/A |
| Idaho | $35K | -2% | 160 |
| Tennessee | $35K | -3% | 1,200 |
| North Carolina | $35K | -3% | 1,900 |
| Connecticut | $35K | -3% | 4,490 |
| New York | $35K | -3% | 19,710 |
| Texas | $34K | -5% | 5,340 |
| South Carolina | $34K | -5% | 710 |
| Montana | $34K | -6% | 110 |
| North Dakota | $33K | -7% | 270 |
| Oklahoma | $31K | -12% | 480 |
| Delaware | $31K | -13% | 780 |
| Kansas | $31K | -14% | 1,510 |
| Alabama | $30K | -15% | 920 |
| Utah | $29K | -19% | 1,150 |
| Louisiana | $28K | -21% | 2,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $28K | -22% | 9,610 |
| Arkansas | $28K | -23% | 230 |
| Georgia | $27K | -25% | 1,710 |
| New Mexico | $26K | -28% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track manicurists and pedicurists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Erie numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a manicurists and pedicurist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Erie?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 61.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,212/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for manicurists and pedicurists in Erie?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new manicurists and pedicurists typically earn — is $18K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,099/month. At HUD’s $1,212/month FMR, rent would take 110% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is manicurists and pedicurist a high-paying job in Erie?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $28K here vs. $36K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Erie compare to the national average for manicurists and pedicurists?
Erie pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.95), the purchasing-power equivalent is $31K — below the national median.
How much do manicurists and pedicurists make in Erie, PA?
The median is $28,100 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $18,310, and experienced manicurists and pedicurists can clear $47,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Erie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,980/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,212/month, which eats 61.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a manicurists and pedicurists salary go in Erie?
Erie has a Regional Price Parity of 90.95 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median manicurists and pedicurists salary is worth about $30,896 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do manicurists and pedicurists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.