In personal services, many roles involve working with your hands or on your feet. You may need to maintain and operate specialised machines. If you are a people person and like to provide warm customer service to repeat clients, this could be a good industry for you.
What people love about working in personal services
Here are some of the benefits of working in personal services:
- You can build close, long lasting relationships with clients.
- You can help people feel better about themselves, both in body and mind.
- You can work independently and autonomously.
- Most jobs are task focused, so you can end each day with a clear sense of accomplishment.
Where you can work
The personal services industry has a wide range of employers. For example, you could manage a day spa, work in a hair or nail salon, or in a local gym.
The kinds of personal services settings you could work in include:
- hair and nail salons
- barber shops
- beauty clinics
- gyms and fitness centres
- massage therapy providers
- religious institutions
- funeral service providers.
Average salary
The average weekly earnings for people who work in the other services industry in Australia is $1,145.
Source: Your Career(opens in a new window)
Please note:
- Personal services is part of the other services industry.
- This salary is current as of July 2024 and is indicative only. A range of salaries apply to different roles across the industry.
Job demand in Victoria
Below are the projected employment forecasts for the other services industry in Victoria. Figures show the number of workers in 2023 and the new workers expected to enter the workforce by 2026.
‘New workers expected’ accounts for workers adding new jobs to the economy and replacing retirees over the next 3 years. These forecasts are estimates only. There will be additional jobs available as people move between jobs and industries.
Note that specific data is not available for personal services.
| Region | Workers 2023 | Workforce growth 2023-2026 | New workers needed by 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 123,892 | -0.2% | 6,457 |
| Melbourne – inner metropolitan | 17,210 | 0.3% | 1,139 |
| Melbourne – inner south-east metropolitan | 8,633 | -0.2% | 434 |
| Melbourne – southern metropolitan | 18,424 | -0.4% | 841 |
| Melbourne – northern metropolitan | 15,190 | -0.2% | 774 |
| Melbourne – eastern metropolitan | 17,034 | -0.2% | 867 |
| Melbourne – western metropolitan | 15,161 | -0.1% | 804 |
| Ballarat and surrounds (Central Highlands) | 3,222 | -0.1% | 175 |
| Bendigo, Echuca and surrounds (Loddon Campaspe) | 4,915 | -0.5% | 210 |
| Geelong, Colac and surrounds (Barwon) | 6,138 | 0.2% | 388 |
| Gippsland | 6,864 | -0.2% | 348 |
| Horsham and surrounds (Wimmera Southern Mallee) | 825 | -1.5% | <10 |
| Mildura, Swan Hill and surrounds (Mallee) | 1,794 | -0.8% | 58 |
| Shepparton, Seymour and surrounds (Goulburn) | 3,832 | 0.1% | 230 |
| Wangaratta, Wodonga and surrounds (Ovens Murray) | 2,820 | -0.3% | 139 |
| Warrnambool, Hamilton and surrounds (Great South Coast) | 1,830 | -1.1% | 43 |
Source: Victorian Skills Authority employment forecast dashboard
Career success story
Styled for self-image: Paige’s hairdressing impact
“Our apprenticeships are naturally very practical. You’re in the salon getting first-hand experience which opens up windows of opportunity for learning, growth and making connections in the industry.”
Resources to plan your next steps
Visit our personal services industry profile to find out about:
- what it’s like to work in personal services, and some of the jobs you could do
- training and skills to work in the industry, and financial assistance to help pay for your course
- help getting a job in personal services, and industry job forecasts for Victoria
- other free resources and advice to plan your training and career.
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