Personal Appearance Workers
SOC 39-5000
The median annual wage for Personal Appearance Workers is $34,930, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $41,510, and an estimated 532,400 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +23.4% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +4.8% after inflation.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Personal Appearance Workers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $34,930 | $34,930 | 532,400 |
| 2022 | $33,270 | $34,640 | 521,210 |
| 2021 | $29,590 | $33,274 | 481,530 |
| 2020 | $28,310 | $33,330 | 448,020 |
Nominal change
+23.4%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+4.8%
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$24,140
25th Pct
$29,540
Median
$34,930
75th Pct
$46,390
90th Pct
$62,510
Related Occupations in Personal Care & Service
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.