SOC 11-9179.00Bright outlook
All personal service managers not listed separately.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
Annual pay range
10,450 people work in this occupation.
In short
Personal service managers oversee the daily operations of businesses that provide personal services, such as travel agencies. This career offers a median annual pay of $69,770, with opportunities ranging from entry-level roles to highly compensated management positions.
Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.
All personal service managers not listed separately.
People in this career handle the daily administration of personal service businesses, such as travel agencies. Their day-to-day work involves coordinating staff, managing budgets, and ensuring that customers receive high-quality service. To succeed in this role, individuals need strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills. They must be adept at solving operational problems and managing business resources efficiently.
These managers typically have a strong interest in enterprising activities, which involve leading people and making business decisions. They must also possess a solid understanding of business administration and customer service principles. The work requires a dependable and detail-oriented approach to keep operations running smoothly and to maintain high customer satisfaction.
Entering this management field typically requires a high school diploma, which is the standard entry-level education. However, many people prepare for these roles by pursuing higher education in related fields. Relevant college majors include business administration, management and operations, general business or commerce, and entrepreneurial and small business operations. Those focusing on specific industries might study hospitality administration and management, or cosmetology and related personal grooming services.
Depending on the location and the specific type of personal service being managed, some states list licensing requirements for this work. Aspiring managers should check the guidelines in their specific state to see if a license is necessary for their chosen industry.
The median annual pay for these managers is $69,770. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience and the specific industry, with the lowest 10% earning less than $44,910 and the highest 10% earning more than $118,710.
There are 10,450 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 6.2%, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth, along with normal staff turnover, is expected to result in approximately 2,000 job openings each year.
Travel Agency Manager
Career pathway
Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.
1Interests
2This career
3Majors
4Colleges
This career
Majors
Colleges
College Scorecard program outcomes
Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.
Pittsburgh, PA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Ann Arbor, MI · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Berkeley, CA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Philadelphia, PA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Atlanta, GA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Chapel Hill, NC · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.
NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk
Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.
2,372 colleges offer it
975 colleges offer it
919 colleges offer it
641 colleges offer it
326 colleges offer it
CareerOneStop
What personal service managers, all other may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.
Programs of study that prepare people for this work.
5 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.
REGULATED SHOOTING AREA OPERATOR
Forest, Wildlife & Heritage Division, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Horse Racing Occupational License
Highway Spill Remediation
Racing -- Stable Foreman
Racing -- Training Facility General Manager
Administrator (Telecommunications)
Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.
Your plan
Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.
Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.
To enter this field, candidates typically need at least a high school diploma. Many managers also choose to pursue college degrees in business, hospitality, or specialized personal services to improve their employment prospects.
The median annual pay for these managers is $69,770. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $44,910, while the top 10% of earners make more than $118,710 per year.
Yes, there are projected to be about 2,000 job openings each year in this field. This is supported by an employment growth rate of 6.2% from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.
Version 31.0
Version 2025-35 · Data year 2025
Version 2025 · Data year 2025
Version 2020 · Data year 2020
O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.
Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.
Page data updated November 5, 2026.