Manicurist and Pedicurist Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Manicurists and Pedicurists in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $31,200 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,291 take-home, or $2,191 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median manicurist and pedicurist salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,564
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$452
- Pennsylvania income tax$958
- Take-home pay$26,291
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,167 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $25,124 ($2,094 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Manicurist and Pedicurist pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,300 | $10.24 | $18,497 | $1,541 |
| 25th percentile | $22,040 | $10.60 | $19,083 | $1,590 |
| Median (50th) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,291 | $2,191 |
| 75th percentile | $33,270 | $16.00 | $27,891 | $2,324 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,670 | $17.15 | $29,746 | $2,479 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,200 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median manicurist and pedicurist's $26,291 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,637 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Philadelphia, PA has 2.6× the national concentration of manicurist and pedicurist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for manicurists and pedicurists, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #12 of 12 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $50,800 | $42,998 | $38,690 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $42,040 | $34,603 | $31,779 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $41,600 | $34,411 | $29,764 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $37,390 | $31,286 | $29,576 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $35,920 | $29,939 | $28,561 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $35,340 | $29,713 | $27,855 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $35,200 | $29,608 | $27,816 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $36,670 | $30,712 | $27,449 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $31,200 | $26,291 | $25,637 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 12 metros →
About the job: manicurists and pedicurists
Clean and shape customers’ fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +9.2% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a manicurist and pedicurist make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median manicurist and pedicurist salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $31,200 a year, or about $15.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,040 and $33,270.
What is a manicurist and pedicurist’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $31,200 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $26,291 a year ($2,191 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $958 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a manicurist and pedicurist?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $35,760. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,637 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #12 of 12 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a manicurist and pedicurist afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 69% of a median manicurist and pedicurist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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