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Cosmetic service workers (except beauticians)

How to become a Nail Technician

Also called: Pedicurist, Manicurist, Nail Artist

Shapes and decorates nails to make them look attractive through nail treatments.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say vocational college (senmon gakko) or high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular qualifications or level of education are needed to start, but people usually learn the skills at a nail school. Those aiming for an advanced level may spend 200 hours or more in classes. Some senmon gakko (vocational colleges) also run nail courses, and many people learn the skills there. There are jobs in many places, including nail salons, hair salons and beauty salons. People find work through their school's job referrals or by applying for jobs posted by nail shops. With two to three years of experience you can move to another salon, and some work freelance. Some hairdressers and beauty therapists also do nail work after gaining private qualifications such as the Nailist Skills Test or the JNA Gel Nail Skills Test.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Nail Technician?

No particular qualifications or level of education are needed to start, but people usually learn the skills at a nail school. Those aiming for an advanced level may spend 200 hours or more in classes. Some senmon gakko (vocational colleges) also run nail courses, and many people learn the skills there. There are jobs in many places, including nail salons, hair salons and beauty salons. People find work through their school's job referrals or by applying for jobs posted by nail shops. With two to three years of experience you can move to another salon, and some work freelance. Some hairdressers and beauty therapists also do nail work after gaining private qualifications such as the Nailist Skills Test or the JNA Gel Nail Skills Test.

How much does a Nail Technician earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥3,538,700 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Beauty and bathhouse service workers (except hairdressers), which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Nail Technician?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 11% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: Vocational college (専門学校) course: Beauty.

Will AI change the work of a Nail Technician?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026