Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary
The median pay for a manicurists and pedicurists in Pennsylvania is $27,990/year ($13.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $29,472 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 67.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $28K get you in Pennsylvania?
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for manicurists and pedicurists in Pennsylvania runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $36K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 68.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level manicurists and pedicurists (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Manicurists and Pedicurists salary by metro in Pennsylvania
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $31K | +11% | 7,320 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $30K | +7% | 620 |
| Lancaster | $29K | +5% | 340 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $29K | +5% | 570 |
| York-Hanover | $29K | +4% | 330 |
| Reading | $29K | +3% | 230 |
| Pittsburgh | $29K | +3% | 1,670 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $29K | +3% | 240 |
| Altoona | $28K | +1% | 80 |
| Erie | $28K | +0% | 130 |
| State College | $28K | +0% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a manicurists and pedicurist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 68.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new manicurists and pedicurists typically earn — is $21K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,231/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 110% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $28K here vs. $36K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for manicurists and pedicurists?
Pennsylvania pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $29K — below the national median.
How much do manicurists and pedicurists make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $27,990 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,520, and experienced manicurists and pedicurists can clear $43,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,973/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 68.5% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $29,472 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.