Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary
The median pay for a manicurists and pedicurists in Iowa is $45,420/year ($21.84/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $16K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $51,114 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 34.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa sits well above the national pay line for manicurists and pedicurists, local pay runs about 27% higher than the U.S. median of $36K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,064/month, which is 35.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level manicurists and pedicurists (10th percentile) start around $16K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Manicurists and Pedicurists salary by metro in Iowa
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $38K | -15% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a manicurists and pedicurist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 35.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new manicurists and pedicurists typically earn — is $16K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $948/month. At HUD’s $1,064/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 Iowa?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $45K here vs. $36K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for manicurists and pedicurists?
Iowa pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s +27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do manicurists and pedicurists make in Iowa?
The median is $45,420 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $15,800, and experienced manicurists and pedicurists can clear $58,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,031/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 35.1% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $51,114 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.