Nail Salons — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the nail salons industry earns $26,331 per year ($12.66/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$26,331
Avg Annual Pay
147,206
Total Employees
32,997
Total Establishments
4
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Nail Salons Workers Earn?

At $26,331/year (equivalent to $12.66/hour for a full-time worker), nail salons wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical nail salons business employs 4 people. Most operations are small — often owner-operated with a handful of staff. Labor costs are manageable relative to revenue.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

41.7%

For the average nail salons business generating $253K/year with 4 employees at $26,331 each, total payroll represents roughly 41.7% of revenue. Labor is a significant cost but leaves room for other expenses and profit.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a nail salonsbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $34,230/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 4 employees = ~$105,324/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $12.66/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $253K/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Nail Salons revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do nail salons employees make?
The average nail salons employee earns $26,331 per year, which is equivalent to $12.66/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the nail salons industry?
The nail salons industry employs 147,206 workers across 32,997 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 4 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).