Manicurist and Pedicurist Salary in San Diego, CA
Manicurists and Pedicurists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $36,670 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,712 take-home, or $2,559 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median manicurist and pedicurist salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,220
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,274
- Medicare (1.45%)$532
- California income tax$456
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$477
- Take-home pay$30,712
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Manicurist and Pedicurist pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,150 | $16.90 | $29,571 | $2,464 |
| 25th percentile | $36,120 | $17.37 | $30,299 | $2,525 |
| Median (50th) | $36,670 | $17.63 | $30,712 | $2,559 |
| 75th percentile | $47,840 | $23.00 | $39,078 | $3,256 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,360 | $26.62 | $44,571 | $3,714 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,670 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median manicurist and pedicurist's $30,712 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,449 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 2.8× 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
San Diego, CA ranks #8 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 |
*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.
Manicurist and Pedicurist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $41,600
- Sacramento, CA — $35,340
- Riverside, CA — $35,200
- Los Angeles, CA — $36,570
Frequently asked questions
How much does a manicurist and pedicurist make in San Diego, CA?
The median manicurist and pedicurist salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $36,670 a year, or about $17.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,120 and $47,840.
What is a manicurist and pedicurist’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $36,670 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $30,712 a year ($2,559 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $933 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a manicurist and pedicurist?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $35,760. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,449 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #8 of 12 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a manicurist and pedicurist afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 96% of a median manicurist and pedicurist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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