Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary
The median pay for a manicurists and pedicurists in Mobile, AL is $29,370/year ($14.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.1), which stretches that salary to about $33,337 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,083/month, about 52.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $29K get you in Mobile?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Mobile’s Regional Price Parity (88.1). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Mobile
Pay for manicurists and pedicurists in Mobile runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $36K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,083/month, which is 53.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.1 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% 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 Mobile, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $29K | $31K |
| Montgomery | $35K | $39K |
| Dothan | $35K | $42K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $38K | $33K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Mobile, AL
Entry-level manicurists and pedicurists (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $29K. Top earners bring in $50K 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 |
| 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 Mobile numbers change.
Related careers in Personal Care
Frequently asked questions
Can a manicurists and pedicurist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Mobile?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $29K, rent takes 53.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,083/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 Mobile?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new manicurists and pedicurists typically earn — is $21K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,248/month. At HUD’s $1,083/month FMR, rent would take 87% 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 Mobile?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $29K here vs. $36K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Mobile compare to the national average for manicurists and pedicurists?
Mobile pays $29K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.1), the purchasing-power equivalent is $33K — below the national median.
How much do manicurists and pedicurists make in Mobile, AL?
The median is $29,370 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,800, and experienced manicurists and pedicurists can clear $49,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $29K enough to live in Mobile?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,028/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,083/month, which eats 53.4% 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 Mobile?
Mobile has a Regional Price Parity of 88.1 (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 $33,337 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.
