Manicurist: Duties & Job Market

by Amanda Fornecker

A manicurist works with nails at a salon or any other place where nail services are offered. A person who is a manicurist usually has a talent and interest in polishing, styling, and decorating both fingernails and toenails.

Duties of a manicurist
A manicurist's duties include filing nails, cutting cuticles, polishing nails, and putting on nail extensions. Manicurists, or nail technicians as they are sometimes called, also do fill-ins to maintain nail extensions and wraps. They give massages to clients and ensure a perfect manicure that meets the customer's satisfaction.

Manicurists may also have other duties in the salon, such as cleaning up after each session, making sure stock is up-to-date, and maintaining the salon. Manicurists who have extra certifications may also do waxing, as needed.

Where to find manicurist jobs
You may find a manicurist job within a full-service salon and spa, in a salon comprised solely of nail services, at a nursing home, or at barber shops. These jobs are available for those who have gone through a manicurist course of study and have obtained their license as a nail technician.

Manicurist programs
The general length of a manicurist program may vary depending on which school you attend, but usually entail a few months of study, whereby you earn your certification and are prepped to take the licensing exam. Manicurists are the products of nail technician schools, with programs that teach students how to perfect the craft of nail styling.

From practicing on the public to learning different techniques and practices, manicurists really get a good sense of what it will be like to work in the real world. Manicurist programs provide a very good starting point for students looking to pursue a job in this field.

Demand for manicurist jobs
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that by the year 2016, the number of manicurists and pedicurists will increase by 28 percent. This is due in large part to the increasing number of salons, which will create more and more jobs for those in the cosmetology field.

Manicuring nails is a craft that needs to be perfected, but if you have patience and pay attention to detail, then a career as a manicurist may be well-suited for you.