Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary
The median pay for a manicurists and pedicurists in Kentucky is $45,310/year ($21.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $50,216 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 35.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Kentucky?
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Kentucky 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 $1,110/month, which is 36.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kentucky
Entry-level manicurists and pedicurists (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Manicurists and Pedicurists salary by metro in Kentucky
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $46K | +2% | 130 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a manicurists and pedicurist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 36.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/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 Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new manicurists and pedicurists typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,889/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Kentucky?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $45K here vs. $36K nationally.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for manicurists and pedicurists?
Kentucky pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s +27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do manicurists and pedicurists make in Kentucky?
The median is $45,310 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,480, and experienced manicurists and pedicurists can clear $65,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,053/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 36.4% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $50,216 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.