Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Food service, cleaning, and personal care / 39-5092.00

Manicurists and Pedicurists

Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.

US jobs
152,770
Median wage
$35,760 a year
Job family
Food service, cleaning, and personal care

Can agents do the work of manicurists and pedicurists?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Food service, cleaning, and personal care: Not yet (first measured in the last 12 months)

Direct benchmarks exist, but agents complete less than 20% of their tasks.

Evidence: BEHAVIOR Challenge 2025, 12.4% of tasks fully completed (Full task success rate).

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 65%Apply hygienic or cosmetic agents to skin or hairNot measured
  • 7%Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areasNot measured
  • 6%Advise patients or clients on medical issuesNot measured
  • 5%Schedule appointmentsNot measured
  • 3%Evaluate patient or client condition or treatment optionsNot measured
  • 3%Administer therapeutic treatmentsNot measured
  • 3%Maintain operational recordsNot measured
  • 3%Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or productsNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in food service, cleaning, and personal care, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Clean and sanitize tools and work environment.
  • Apply undercoat and clear or colored polish onto nails with brush.
  • Maintain supply inventories and records of client services.
  • Shape and smooth ends of nails, using scissors, files, or emery boards.
  • Prepare nail cuticles with water and oil, using cuticle knives to push back cuticles and scissors or nippers to trim cuticles.
  • Prepare customers' nails in soapy water, using swabs, files, and orange sticks.
  • Remove previously applied nail polish, using liquid remover and swabs.
  • Use rotary abrasive wheels to shape and smooth nails or artificial extensions.
  • Schedule client appointments and accept payments.
  • Assess the condition of clients' hands, remove dead skin, and massage hands.
  • Roughen surfaces of fingernails, using abrasive wheel.
  • Advise clients on nail care and use of products and colors.
Other job titles for this occupation (11)

Manicurist · Nail Technician (Nail Tech) · Pedicurist · Fingernail Former · Fingernail Sculptor · Fingernail Sculpturer · Fingernail Technician · Licensed Nail Technician (Licensed Nail Tech) · Nail Artist · Salon Nail Technician (Salon Nail Tech) · Spa Nail Technician (Spa Nail Tech)