Manicurists and Pedicurists Salary
The median pay for a manicurists and pedicurists in South Carolina is $33,810/year ($16.26/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $18K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $36,289 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 54.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $34K get you in South Carolina?
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Manicurists and pedicurists pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $34K locally vs. $36K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 52.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level manicurists and pedicurists (10th percentile) start around $18K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Manicurists and Pedicurists salary by metro in South Carolina
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $35K | +3% | 170 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $35K | +3% | 70 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $34K | +0% | 110 |
| Florence | $31K | -8% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track manicurists and pedicurists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a manicurists and pedicurist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 52.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new manicurists and pedicurists typically earn — is $18K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,107/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 114% 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 South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $34K locally vs. $36K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for manicurists and pedicurists?
South Carolina pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do manicurists and pedicurists make in South Carolina?
The median is $33,810 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $18,450, and experienced manicurists and pedicurists can clear $62,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,389/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 52.9% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $36,289 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.