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Occupational Outlook Handbook | All Occupations

Personal care and service occupations

Earnings Graph | Area and Industry Statistics | Demographics | Union Statistics | Hourly and Minimum Wage | Employee Tenure | Fatalities | In the News | Job Openings
  • Animal Care and Service Workers
    • Animal lovers get satisfaction in this occupation, but the work can be unpleasant, physically and emotionally demanding, and sometimes dangerous.
    • Most workers are trained on the job, but employers generally prefer to hire people who have some experience with animals; some jobs require a bachelor's degree in biology, animal science, or a related field.
    • Good employment opportunities are expected for most positions; however, keen competition is expected for jobs as zookeepers.
      • Earnings are relatively low.
  • Barbers, Cosmetologists, and Other Personal Appearance Workers
    • Job opportunities generally should be good, but competition is expected for jobs and clients at higher paying salons; opportunities will be best for those licensed to provide a broad range of services.
    • A State license is required for barbers, cosmetologists, and most other personal appearance workers, with the exception of shampooers; qualifications vary by State.
    • About 48 percent of workers are self-employed; many also work flexible schedules.
  • Child Care Workers
    • About 1 out of 3 child care workers are self-employed; most of these are family child care providers.
    • Training requirements vary from a high school diploma to a college degree, although a high school diploma and little or no experience are adequate for many jobs.
    • Many workers leave these jobs every year, creating good job opportunities.
  • Fitness Workers
    • Many group fitness and personal training jobs are part time, but many workers increase their hours by working at several different facilities or at clients' homes.
    • Night and weekend working hours are common.
    • Most fitness workers need to be certified.
    • Employment prospects are expected to be good because of rapid growth in the fitness industry.
  • Flight Attendants
    • Job duties are learned through formal on-the-job training.
    • Competition for positions will remain strong because the opportunity for travel attracts more applicants than there are jobs, with only the most qualified being hired.
    • A high school diploma is the minimum educational requirement; however, applicants with a college degree and with experience in dealing with the public are likely to have the best employment opportunities.
  • Gaming Services Occupations
    • Job opportunities are available nationwide and are no longer limited to Nevada and New Jersey.
    • Workers need a license issued by a regulatory agency, such as a State casino control board or commission; licensure requires proof of residency in the State in which gaming workers are employed.
    • Employment is projected to grow faster than average.
    • Job prospects are best for those with a degree or certification in gaming or a hospitality-related field, previous training or experience in casino gaming, and strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
  • Gaming Service Workers, all other
  • Personal and Home Care Aides
    • Job opportunities are expected to be excellent because of rapid growth in home health care and high replacement needs.
    • Skill requirements are low, as is the pay.
    • About 33 percent of personal and home care aides work part time; most aides work with a number of different clients, each job lasting a few hours, days, or weeks.
  • Recreation Workers
    • Educational requirements for recreation workers range from a high school diploma to a graduate degree. Competition will remain keen for full-time career positions in recreation. The recreation field offers an unusually large number of part-time and seasonal job opportunities.
  • Personal Care and Service Workers, all other

Earnings Graph

National Average and Percentile Annual Earnings, May 2005

Metropolitan area and State estimates.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Area and Industry Statistics

May 2005 Mean Annual Earnings and Employment, wage and salary workers

Personal care and service occupations
— National
U.S.: $22,180
— by State
AL: $18,340
AK: $26,630
AZ: $24,780
AR: $16,110
CA: $24,420
CO: $23,300
CT: $25,700
DE: $23,440
DC: $27,130
FL: $21,930
GA: $22,260
HI: $25,060
ID: $19,750
IL: $23,990
IN: $19,660
IA: $18,750
KS: $19,190
KY: $21,290
LA: $18,020
ME: $20,880
MD: $22,880
MA: $26,470
MI: $22,530
MN: $23,230
MS: $18,240
MO: $20,930
MT: $18,120
NE: $19,470
NV: $21,870
NH: $21,270
NJ: $26,000
NM: $18,340
NY: $24,710
NC: $20,470
ND: $18,890
OH: $20,170
OK: $17,520
OR: $24,160
PA: $20,580
RI: $23,690
SC: $18,930
SD: $18,800
TN: n.a.
TX: $19,150
UT: $21,920
VT: $23,280
VA: $22,870
WA: $24,620
WV: $17,470
WI: $20,630
WY: $19,530
GU: $27,180
PR: $15,490
VI: $17,060
— by NAICS Industry Sector
11 $23,570
23 $20,520
31-33 $26,320
42 $25,260
44-45 $18,900
48-49 $43,070
51 $17,070
52 $26,480
53 $24,230
54 $19,620
55 $20,290
56 $21,720
61 $21,710
62 $18,740
71 $22,670
72 $21,190
81 $23,120
92 $23,380
Also see State and Metropolitan Area and industry estimates of employment and percentile earnings for personal care and service occupations.

Width of bars indicates mean annual wages; color of bars indicates employment.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Demographics

Personal care and service occupations

  • Employed persons, 2004
    • Employed persons:
    4,488,000    		Percent of total
    WomenMenBlackAsianHispanic
    77.6% 22.4% 14.9% 6.3% 12.7%
  • Full-time wage and salary workers, 2004
     EmploymentMedian weekly earnings
    $W/M ratio
    Women
    (emp.) (earn.)    		 1,431,000$3800.760
    Men
    (emp.) (earn.)    		 538,000$500
    All workers
    (emp.) (earn.)    		 1,969,000$402 

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

Union Statistics

• Union affiliation of employed wage & salary workers
• Median weekly earnings of full-time wage & salary workers

Personal care and service occupations

  • Employed wage and salary workers, 2005
    • Employed persons: 3,373,000
    Members of unionsRepresented by unions
    NumberPercentNumberPercent
    288,000 8.5% 317,000 9.4%
    more union employment statistics
  • Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, 2005
    All full-time wage and salary workers $409
    — Members of unions$558
    — Represented by unions$549
    — Non-union$397
    more union earnings statistics

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

Hourly and Minimum Wage

Employed wage and salary workers paid hourly rates and those with earnings at or below the Federal minimum wage, 2004

Personal care and service occupations

Paid hourly wages 2,254,000
At or below $5.15 per hour 151,000
At $5.15 54,000
Below $5.15 97,000

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

Employee Tenure

Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers, 2004

OccupationEmployee Tenure, median (years)
Personal care and service occupations 2.7

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

Fatalities

2004 Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and event or exposure

OccupationFatalities: Event or exposure
TotalTran.Viol.Cont.FallsExpo.Fires
Personal care and service occupations 55 19 25 9---
Supervisors, personal care and service workers 6 4-----
Other personal care and service workers 16 5 4 6---

source: Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities Program; about this section

In the News

Recent posts from the Personal Care and Service Occupations archive of the ocouha weblog:

 

Job Openings

Current job openings on craigslist.com

skilled trade / craft jobs

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