75 percent of New York manicurists earn less than minimum wage

A New York Times expose has revealed the mistreatment of manicurists in nail salons across the city
(Image credit: iStock)

A New York Times exposé has revealed the horrifying treatment of manicurists in nail salons across New York City and its surrounding suburbs. Of the many shocking revelations, one of the most arresting stats in the piece points out that only a quarter of workers interviewed said they earned the equivalent of New York's minimum wage, and some reported earning as little as $1.50 an hour.

The illegally low pay often forces workers into dire living conditions, too — one salon worker, for instance, lived in a one-bedroom apartment with five other people, three of whom were strangers. Another manicurist told the Times she spent her first three months without wages at a new salon, living only on tips until her supervisor thought she was "skillful enough to merit a wage."

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.