Best paying personal care jobs

The highest-paying occupations in personal care, ranked with median wage weighted heaviest.

How this ranking is scored

score = .70·pay + .10·growth + .10·employment + .10·openings

Each factor is scaled to the strongest occupation on this list, then weighted and summed. Weights differ by list type. Full methodology.

Wages — OEWS May 2025

Growth & openings — EP 2024–34

Rank by Overall score ·Pay ·Growth ·Openings

Compare · management·business and finance·technology

#

Occupation

MEDIAN PAY

P25–P75

Growth

Employed

Open/yr

Score

01

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance · Postsecondary nondegree award · 39-5091

$97,150

+8.1%

2,340

1,100

100

02

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-9031

$47,160

+11.9%

322,930

74,200

71

03

First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-1013

$63,820

+2.0%

26,010

3,300

63

04

Animal Caretakers · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-2021

$35,360

+12.1%

266,910

74,600

59

05

Childcare Workers · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-9011

$34,980

-2.9%

518,910

160,200

59

06

First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-1022

$48,590

+6.7%

114,110

16,300

57

07

Embalmers · Associate's degree · 39-4011

$58,780

+1.3%

3,890

600

57

08

First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-1014

$48,560

+6.3%

103,190

13,400

56

09

Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers · Associate's degree · 39-4031

$55,010

+3.1%

25,100

3,200

56

10

Costume Attendants · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-3092

$50,400

+5.9%

6,510

1,800

54

11

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists · Postsecondary nondegree award · 39-5012

$35,790

+5.6%

305,710

75,800

53

12

Skincare Specialists · Postsecondary nondegree award · 39-5094

$45,330

+6.7%

72,890

14,500

53

13

Recreation Workers · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-9032

$36,560

+4.1%

331,490

68,100

53

14

Amusement and Recreation Attendants · No formal educational credential · 39-3091

$32,150

+3.4%

397,830

102,400

52

15

Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-9099

$41,600

+6.4%

60,420

16,100

49

16

Residential Advisors · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-9041

$42,240

+3.8%

84,760

17,400

47

17

Manicurists and Pedicurists · Postsecondary nondegree award · 39-5092

$35,760

+7.0%

152,770

24,800

47

18

Tour and Travel Guides · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-7010

$38,120

+8.1%

53,500

13,000

47

19

Crematory Operators · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-4012

$43,650

+3.3%

2,970

600

45

20

Animal Trainers · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-2011

$39,990

+5.1%

18,770

7,100

44

21

Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-3093

$36,300

+6.4%

15,560

4,200

42

22

Barbers · Postsecondary nondegree award · 39-5011

$38,210

+4.1%

15,000

8,400

41

23

Concierges · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-6012

$38,950

+2.3%

49,240

6,800

41

24

Funeral Attendants · High school diploma or equivalent · 39-4021

$35,680

+3.1%

31,090

5,700

38

25

Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers · No formal educational credential · 39-3031

$32,910

+1.2%

121,770

30,800

38

Showing top 25 of 32 scored occupations — show all 32show top 25

#

Occupation

MEDIAN PAY

Growth

Score

26

Shampooers · No formal educational credential

$32,600

+5.5%

37

27

Motion Picture Projectionists · No formal educational credential

$38,270

-3.7%

36

28

Baggage Porters and Bellhops · High school diploma or equivalent

$37,080

-1.6%

36

29

Gambling Dealers · High school diploma or equivalent

$34,320

-0.6%

35

30

Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other · High school diploma or equivalent

$32,640

+3.6%

35

31

Gambling Service Workers, All Other · High school diploma or equivalent

$36,310

-0.6%

35

32

Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners · High school diploma or equivalent

$34,980

-6.1%

33

Fastest-growing personal care careers

01 Animal Caretakers +12.1%

02 Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors +11.9%

03 Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance +8.1%

04 Tour and Travel Guides +8.1%

05 Manicurists and Pedicurists +7.0%

personal care careers without a four-year degree

01 Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance $97,150

02 Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors $47,160

03 First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers $63,820

04 Animal Caretakers $35,360

05 Childcare Workers $34,980

Live jobs in personal care

No live openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified personal care openings will appear here, each matched to its BLS occupation. Nothing here is placeholder.

No placeholder listings · nothing invented

About personal care careers

How many personal care careers are there?

Jobs.best ranks 32 personal care occupations with published wages, from OEWS May 2025.

What is the highest-paying personal care job?

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance, with a national median of $97,150.

Can you enter personal care without a degree?

Yes — 5 of the ranked personal care occupations typically need no four-year degree, including Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance.