Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Personal care and service workers, all other, support clients in a wide variety of personal service settings. Nationally, this occupation employs about 94,000 people, indicating a sizable presence in the labor market. The projected employment growth of 6.4% and 16,000 annual openings suggest ongoing demand and regular replacement needs. A typical education requirement of a high school diploma or equivalent makes this career accessible to many job seekers, including those early in their careers or changing fields. The role draws on a broad mix of skills, from interpersonal abilities and customer service to physical strength and stamina, adaptability, and communication. Workers may also use creativity and innovation, leadership, and project management skills, along with foundational writing, reading, and science abilities. Overall, this career path offers accessible entry, steady openings, and opportunities to apply both people-focused and practical skills in a variety of personal service environments.
The national median annual salary for personal care and service workers, all other, is $37,900. Pay levels vary by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $33,910 in Virginia to $41,020 in Washington, with California and New York also above the national median at $39,860 and $40,720 respectively. Colorado’s median salary of $37,930 is very close to the national figure. At the metro level, earnings can be higher. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area shows a median salary of $46,430, while San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ report $43,810 and $42,000. Other strong metros include Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $36,860 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $35,300. These differences highlight the importance of local pay levels when evaluating earning potential in this field.
Personal care and service workers, all other, have a national employment level of about 94,000 workers. The occupation is projected to grow by 6.4%, indicating an expanding job base over the projection period. In addition to growth, there are an estimated 16,000 annual openings, reflecting a combination of new positions and turnover. This volume of openings suggests that job seekers may encounter recurring opportunities to enter or advance within the field. The same 6.4% projected growth rate appears in several top states and metro areas, aligning local outlooks with the national trend. When considering this career, it can be useful to look not only at the size of current employment, but also at how consistent the projected growth is across different regions. Together, the existing employment level, projected expansion, and steady annual openings point to a labor market with ongoing hiring activity for this occupation.
Location plays a significant role in opportunities for personal care and service workers, all other. Among states, California stands out with an opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $39,860, and employment of 4,770. New York also ranks highly, with an opportunity score of 65.78, median salary of $40,720, and 1,040 workers. Colorado, Washington, and Virginia offer opportunity scores between about 55 and 57, with median salaries from $33,910 in Virginia to $41,020 in Washington and employment levels ranging from 670 in Washington to 1,570 in Virginia. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ show the strongest opportunity scores, 77.42 and 77.27, along with median salaries of $46,430 and $42,000. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also provide notable combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity scores, giving job seekers several high-opportunity regions to consider.
The typical education requirement for personal care and service workers, all other, is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to individuals who have completed secondary education and are ready to enter the workforce without additional formal schooling. Within this educational level, the occupation still relies on a strong skill set. Key abilities include interpersonal skills, customer service, and speaking and listening, which support effective interaction with clients and colleagues. Physical strength and stamina are also important, reflecting the active nature of many personal care and service roles. Adaptability, creativity and innovation, and leadership can help workers handle changing situations and take initiative. Project management skills support organizing tasks and time, while writing and reading are valuable for basic documentation and communication. A foundation in science is also listed among the top skills, indicating that some roles may draw on basic scientific understanding alongside people-focused competencies.
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