Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary
The median pay for a manicurists and pedicurists in Georgia is $26,910/year ($12.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $29,285 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 75.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $27K get you in Georgia?
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What this looks like in Georgia
Pay for manicurists and pedicurists in Georgia runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $36K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 76% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level manicurists and pedicurists (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $27K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Manicurists and Pedicurists salary by metro in Georgia
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $31K | +15% | 40 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $27K | +1% | 1,110 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $26K | -5% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track manicurists and pedicurists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a manicurists and pedicurist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $27K, rent takes 76% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/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 Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new manicurists and pedicurists typically earn — is $21K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,283/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 112% 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 Georgia?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $27K here vs. $36K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for manicurists and pedicurists?
Georgia pays $27K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $29K — below the national median.
How much do manicurists and pedicurists make in Georgia?
The median is $26,910 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,390, and experienced manicurists and pedicurists can clear $56,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $27K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,886/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 76% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $29,285 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.