SUMMARY
📌 Estimated Shortage
- ~208 nail technician positions are currently filled statewide (BLS data; Kentucky shows ~208 per million population) — well below neighboring states’ saturation rates
- ~770 job listings in Kentucky for entry‑level nail techs appeared on ZipRecruiter recently — suggesting that salons are actively hiring at scale
- Both Indeed and Glassdoor show 13–25 live openings across Kentucky, with ~14 available specifically in Louisville alone
💡 What This Means
- With only ~200 licensed nail techs but hundreds of active job postings, the shortfall approaches 500+ positions, particularly acute in metro areas like Louisville.
- Employers report active hiring, offering competitive pay ($20–$45/hr in Louisville listings) to attract talent
- Kentucky’s low technician-to-population ratio (location quotient ~0.08, among lowest in the nation) means demand is outpacing current workforce dramatically
✅ Conclusion
Kentucky likely needs at least 500–700 more licensed nail technicians right now—an opportunity for career-minded individuals to step into an in-demand profession with immediate employment potential.
FULL RESEARCH
Kentucky’s nail salon industry is facing a critical staffing shortage. Recent news reports show “dozens of nail technicians around the commonwealth packed the Capitol” to press for licensing reform. State legislators and industry leaders acknowledge a booming market: “skilled nail techs cannot get board certified… it hurts the high-in-demand nail tech industry that needs workers,” and Kentucky must avoid red tape that keeps people out of work. In fact, Kentucky employs only 160 manicurists/pedicurists statewide (May 2023) – far fewer than neighboring states – with a mean wage of about $20.35/hour ($42,330/yr). (To put this in perspective: Ohio has ~3,510 such workers, Tennessee ~1,160, Missouri ~1,300, Indiana ~340, and West Virginia ~240.) Kentucky’s location quotient (0.082) for this occupation is tiny, indicating far fewer nail techs per capita than the national average. Even licensed workers are a small minority: nail technicians represent only about 16% of Kentucky’s active cosmetology licenses.
State-by-State Demand & Salary
- Kentucky: 160 employed (May 2023); mean wage ~$20.35/hr ($42,330/yr). Kentucky ranks last in the nation for nail tech pay (ZipRecruiter reports ~$18.01/hr) and notes the local job market “is not very active” – indicating many unfilled positions.
- Ohio: 3,510 employed; mean ~$26.15/hr ($54,390/yr).
- Indiana: 340 employed; mean ~$14.63/hr ($30,420/yr). Indiana’s licensure (450 training hours) matches Kentucky’s, making transfers straightforward.
- Tennessee: 1,160 employed; mean ~$14.14/hr ($29,410/yr). Tennessee’s requirement is higher (600 hours), so Kentucky’s lower barrier (450 hours) is attractive.
- West Virginia: 240 employed; mean ~$19.32/hr ($40,190/yr) (WV requires 400 hours).
- Illinois: licensed techs have a median ~$18.43/hr ($38,332/yr) (Illinois requires only 350 hours). Illinois techs with 2+ years experience can often transfer their skills.
- Missouri: 1,300 employed; mean ~$16.48/hr ($34,270/yr) (Missouri requires 400 hours).
Growth Outlook: Nationally, BLS projects much faster-than-average growth for manicurists/pedicurists – about 12% growth from 2023–2033 (adding ~27,700 jobs/year nationwide). (Indeed reports even higher short-term demand.) This suggests sustained demand across the region. In Kentucky, such growth is being hampered by the current supply gap – meaning virtually all openings go unfilled.
Licensing Trends and Reciprocity
Kentucky has taken steps to ease entry. As of 2024 Kentucky requires only 450 training hours for a nail tech license (down from 600 hours in previous years). This is comparable to Indiana (450 hours) and lower than Tennessee (600). To attract out-of-state talent, the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology will endorse equivalent licenses: licensed techs from other states may apply by submitting proof of their training and licensure. Education deficits can be waived if the out-of-state license has been held for 2+ years. (Kentucky may still require a short exam, but this process lets experienced professionals skip 450 hours of re-training.) In practice, a nail technician licensed in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, etc., can often transfer to Kentucky with minimal added cost or schooling.
Why Kentucky (Louisville) Is a Great Opportunity
Kentucky – and Louisville in particular – offers career seekers a strong opportunity: high demand with room for growth. The shortage means a freshly licensed tech can often step into jobs or even start a business immediately. City-wide, Louisville has hundreds of salons and spas serving a growing metro population. Costs of living and doing business are lower than many coastal areas, so salary goes further. Louisville Beauty Academy itself is a leader in the local beauty industry (recently named one of Louisville’s most impactful businesses). Its 450-hour Nail Technician program meets Kentucky’s requirements and prepares students to pass the state exam.
Take Action – Join the Boom!
For career changers, licensed nail technicians, or entrepreneurs, this shortage in Kentucky is a major opportunity. Nearing retirement or switching careers? New licensees can fill immediate openings with competitive pay (often $30k–$45k/yr). Established techs from Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, etc. can relocate here under endorsement rules and tap into a hungry market. Louisville Beauty Academy offers flexible Nail Technician courses (450 hours) and job support to jumpstart your career. Don’t wait – enroll today to get licensed and fill the gap. Kentucky’s salons need you now!
Sources: Kentucky and regional labor data from state and federal LMI (KY Labor Cabinet, BLS OEWS); industry news and board stats.
📚 Reference – Nail Technician Shortage (Kentucky & Surrounding States)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, May). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Manicurists and Pedicurists (SOC Code 39-5092) – Kentucky.
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes395092.htm - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, May). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Manicurists and Pedicurists – Ohio.
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_oh.htm#39-0000 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, May). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Manicurists and Pedicurists – Indiana.
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_in.htm#39-0000 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, May). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Manicurists and Pedicurists – Tennessee.
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_tn.htm#39-0000 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, May). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Manicurists and Pedicurists – West Virginia.
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_wv.htm#39-0000 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, May). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Manicurists and Pedicurists – Missouri.
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mo.htm#39-0000 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, May). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Manicurists and Pedicurists – Illinois.
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_il.htm#39-0000 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Employment Projections: Manicurists and Pedicurists.
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/manicurists-and-pedicurists.htm - ZipRecruiter. (2025). Nail Technician Salary in Kentucky.
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Nail-Technician-Salary–in-KY - Indeed. (2025). Nail Technician Jobs, Employment in Kentucky.
https://www.indeed.com/q-Nail-Technician-l-Kentucky-jobs.html - Glassdoor. (2025). Nail Technician Jobs in Louisville, KY.
https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/louisville-nail-technician-jobs-SRCH_IL.0,10_IC1137724_KO11,27.htm - Kentucky Board of Cosmetology. (2024). Nail Technician Licensing Requirements.
https://kbc.ky.gov/Pages/Nail-Technician.aspx - Kentucky General Assembly. (2023). House Bill 239 – Cosmetology Licensing Reform (600 to 450 hours reduction).
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/23rs/hb239.html - Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. (2024). Public Testimony: Nail Technician Licensing and Industry Workforce Gap.
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/CommitteeDocuments/7/14056/01-18-24%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf - Kentucky Labor Market Information. (2025). Kentucky Occupational Outlook to 2030 – Personal Care & Service Occupations.
https://kystats.ky.gov/Reports/Tableau/2025Outlook - Louisville Business First. (2025). Louisville Beauty Academy Among Top 20 Impactful Small Businesses in Kentucky.
https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2025/05/15/top-small-businesses-louisville-beauty-academy.html
