Money · 1 of 5

What nail technicians make

Established

$42,000

New nail tech

$31,000

Full book or own studio

$62,000

Job Bank's national median is $20 an hour, about $42,000 a year full time, before tips. The low is $15 and the high is $30 an hour. Many nail techs work part time or on commission, so real yearly totals are often below the median. Nail art specialists with a waiting list can go above it.