Nail technician vs web designer: which profession to choose in the USA
In this article we look at two creative, interesting and current directions. The first belongs to the beauty industry, the second is more technical. Who has more scope to realise themselves in the USA — a nail technician or a web designer? Which earns more, and where do the prospects lie? We go through different career paths to help anyone choosing a direction settle on the option that suits them best.
Are nail technicians in demand in the USA?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for beauty industry specialists in America will grow over the next five years. Not only women but men and children now use these services. Bear in mind, though, that a nail technician is tied to a place. Clients cluster most densely in large cities — New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami — so that is where nail and hand care specialists are most in demand.
Is there demand for web designers in America?
Almost every successful brand has a website. If it does not, one is being built, or the business simply does not want to grow. And behind every convenient, functional, well-styled interface stands a web designer. The age of digitalisation is only gathering pace, so good specialists are highly valued in the job market.
Web designers are in strong demand in technology hubs and large cities where the biggest tech companies cluster: New York again, Seattle, San Francisco, Austin. But where a nail technician has to be physically present, a great many tech specialists build successful careers remotely. Demand for staff, for project work and for freelancers is equally high, and that will continue.
The advantages and drawbacks of each
Both directions are clearly popular today. They are suitable professions for immigrants to the USA and neither requires heavy physical labour. They also share advantages:
- Both value a creative approach and a sense of taste highly.
- Both a nail technician and a web designer can work for themselves.
- Entering either is not hard. A course and a portfolio are enough to start looking for clients.
- Neither is routine. Beauty and design are both shaped by trends, and every new client will want their own style and approach.
Each career has its catches. Whether you are doing nails or building an interface, be ready for:
- Stiff competition in both niches.
- Constant dealings with clients, including possible dissatisfaction with the result and difficult personalities.
- Health problems from a sedentary way of working.
- The need to keep learning. Both a web designer and a nail technician have to keep up with current trends, technology and approaches, which means taking courses regularly and improving your skills.
Now let's look at the particulars of each.
The case for and against nail work
If you can do a manicure, there will be demand for your services in the USA in any circumstances. But some points deserve weighing:
- You have to keep spending on materials and on renting a space.
- The flow of clients can be irregular, and so can the income.
Bear in mind too that if a technician works with one segment of the market, clients may prefer particular styles and services, which can make the work feel monotonous.
Broadly, the career will succeed if you can provide a good service and understand the current trends.
The case for and against web design
Working in tech requires only a laptop. To enter the profession quickly and start earning from your skills, a specialist course is worth taking: it gives you current knowledge and takes you to junior level in the shortest possible time.
A web designer in the USA can be on staff or freelance. The first gives stability in income and clients, the second gives more freedom.
Finding a first job can be harder for a web designer than for a nail technician. You have to get through several rounds of interviews and have decent work in your portfolio. Two things are worth noting, though:
- Taking a course improves your chances of getting hired. PASV, for instance, helps with your resume and portfolio, provides an internship and prepares you for interviews. Our graduates are confident juniors with considerable potential, and recruiters notice it.
- Even a little experience in web design makes finding work in America easier. And with real cases in your portfolio, or once your name is known at all in the business community, clients and prospective employers start finding you.
Which brings us to another consideration when choosing a profession: the money.
Comparing the salaries
Up to this point the two directions have kept pace, with the nail technician ahead in places and the tech specialist in others. But the designer earns substantially more. In the USA the average salary in this field reaches $50,000–$90,000 a year, while a nail technician's average annual income is $30,000–$50,000.
The latter depends heavily on location and on the client segment. A web designer is far less tied to geography. Developing in the field and broadening your skills — learning front-end development in addition, for instance — can multiply what you charge. You can also take work on the side to raise your income.
Where each career can go in the USA
In beauty and in tech alike you can become a narrow specialist: a nail technician doing only nail art, a designer working only in one niche. You can become a teacher and train newcomers. Or a technician can open their own salon and a designer their own agency.
The designer has more prospects, though, since they can move into more senior positions or broaden their skills and become a generalist. You can aim at large technology companies or, conversely, go freelance.
You can learn web design and enter this creative, well-paid field on the PASV courses. The curriculum, the duration, the instructors, the additional opportunities and the cost are all on the course page.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get a certificate after the PASV web design course?
Yes.
How long does the web design course take?
The UX/UI Designer course runs for four months.
Where should a freelance web designer look for work in the USA?
On freelance platforms, in LinkedIn and Facebook groups, and on Behance and Dribbble.
Do you need a degree to be a web designer?
No. A specialist course is enough.
What can a web designer with three years' experience expect to earn?
Mid-level web designer vacancies in the USA offer salaries from $80,000.
