Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary
The median pay for a manicurists and pedicurists in Merced, CA is $35,600/year ($17.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers.
So what does $36K get you in Merced?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Merced’s Regional Price Parity (98.3). 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.
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What this looks like in Merced
Manicurists and pedicurists pay in Merced tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $36K nationwide, a 0% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,503/month, which is 60% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.3) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for manicurists and pedicurists in metros near Merced, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $37K | , |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $35K | , |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $37K | , |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $42K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Merced, CA
Entry-level manicurists and pedicurists (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $11K 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 |
| Kentucky | $45K | +27% | 240 |
| South Dakota | $45K | +27% | 250 |
| 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 |
| Virginia | $37K | +2% | 4,230 |
| California | $37K | +2% | 39,210 |
| 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 |
| Idaho | $35K | -2% | 160 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | -2% | N/A |
| 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
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 Merced numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a manicurists and pedicurist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Merced?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 60% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,503/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Merced?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new manicurists and pedicurists typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,059/month. At HUD’s $1,503/month FMR, rent would take 73% 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 Merced?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $36K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Merced compare to the national average for manicurists and pedicurists?
Merced pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.3), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do manicurists and pedicurists make in Merced, CA?
The median is $35,600 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,320, and experienced manicurists and pedicurists can clear $45,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Merced?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,503/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,503/month, which eats 60% 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 Merced?
Merced has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median manicurists and pedicurists salary is worth about $36,216 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.