First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Personal Care and Service · SOC 39-1022 · O*NET 39-1022.00

Median salary
$47,080
Rank #576 of ~830 BLS occupations
10-year growth
+6.7%
2024–2034, average
Employment
107.1M
BLS 2024
Projected 2034
159K
BLS projection
Official O*NET description

Supervise and coordinate activities of personal service workers.

First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers fall under the Personal Care and Service category in the U.S. occupational classification. First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers earn a median salary of $47,080 per year, ranking in the top 71% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +6.7% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do first-line supervisors of personal service workers earn?

The median annual wage for first-line supervisors of personal service workers is $47,080. That puts first-line supervisors of personal service workers at #576 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Full salary distribution (national, BLS 2024)
10th percentile (entry-level)$32,150
25th percentile$37,800
50th percentile (median)$47,080
75th percentile$59,330
90th percentile (top earners)$73,800
Median hourly wage$22.64/hr

Is first-line supervisors of personal service workers a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for first-line supervisors of personal service workers is +6.7%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 149K positions in 2024 to 159K in 2034, a net change of 10K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do first-line supervisors of personal service workers do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working first-line supervisors of personal service workers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

  1. 1.Train workers in proper operational procedures and functions and explain company policies.
  2. 2.Inspect work areas or operating equipment to ensure conformance to established standards in areas such as cleanliness or maintenance.
  3. 3.Investigate employee complaints and resolve problems following management rules and regulations.
  4. 4.Observe and evaluate workers' appearance and performance to ensure quality service and compliance with specifications.
  5. 5.Recruit and hire staff members.
  6. 6.Participate in continuing education to stay abreast of industry trends and developments.
  7. 7.Arrange worker breaks to ensure services are adequately staffed throughout each shift.
  8. 8.Meet with managers or other supervisors to stay informed of changes affecting operations.

Top skills for first-line supervisors of personal service workers

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

Critical Thinking
3.9
Active Listening
3.9
Time Management
3.8
Coordination
3.8
Management of Personnel Resources
3.8
Speaking
3.8
Social Perceptiveness
3.8

What education does my child need to become first-line supervisors of personal service worker?

Many first-line supervisors of personal service workers enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Actual education levels of working first-line supervisors of personal service workers

Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.

Associate's degree
47.8%
Some college courses
23.9%
High school diploma
14.9%
Bachelor's degree
7.5%
Less than high school
3.0%
Master's degree
2.9%

Related careers your child might also consider

How parents help teens explore careers like this

Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.

Common questions parents ask about first-line supervisors of personal service workers

What is the median salary for first-line supervisors of personal service workers?

The median annual salary for first-line supervisors of personal service workers is $47,080 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Is first-line supervisors of personal service workers a growing career?

BLS projects +6.7% growth for first-line supervisors of personal service workers from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.

What education does my child need to become first-line supervisors of personal service worker?

The typical entry path requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.

What careers are similar to first-line supervisors of personal service workers?

Related occupations within the Personal Care and Service category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.

Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.