Personal Care and Service Occupations
SOC 39-0000 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Personal Care and Service Occupations is $34,260, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $38,430, and an estimated 3,040,630 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +21.8% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +3.5% after inflation.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Personal Care and Service Occupations 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 | $34,260 | $34,260 | 3,040,630 |
| 2022 | $31,340 | $32,630 | 2,835,650 |
| 2021 | $29,450 | $33,116 | 2,566,440 |
| 2020 | $28,120 | $33,106 | 2,696,340 |
Nominal change
+21.8%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+3.5%
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Personal Care and Service Occupations earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $34,260. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $44,490 | +29.9% | 2,330 |
| Washington | $43,660 | +27.4% | 61,250 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $39,400 | +15% | 4,680 |
| Alaska | $38,820 | +13.3% | 6,810 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $38,650 | +12.8% | 2,970 |
| Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $38,480 | +12.3% | 2,790 |
| Massachusetts | $38,210 | +11.5% | 78,900 |
| District of Columbia | $38,120 | +11.3% | 11,420 |
| Colorado | $37,520 | +9.5% | 69,630 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $37,500 | +9.5% | 1,520 |
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
$23,130
25th Pct
$28,420
Median
$34,260
75th Pct
$43,320
90th Pct
$58,630
Related Occupations in Personal Care & Service
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.