The Best-Paying Jobs in Consumer Services to Consider
As long as customers buy things, companies will need employees to interact with those customers. These are what’s known as consumer service jobs, representing a multi-billion dollar industry that spans the globe. So, what are the best-paying jobs in consumer services?
While many consumer service jobs pay minimum wage, there are many roles where you can earn much more. If you’re a people person who’s a natural problem solver, you might be the perfect fit for one of the high-paying roles this field offers.
What Is Consumer Services?
Consumer services covers any job that deals with customers. You’ll find consumer service roles in nearly every industry. For example, greeting clients in an office, entertaining travelers while they’re on vacation, and providing technical support over the phone all fall under the consumer services umbrella.
To be successful in a consumer service job, you should enjoy dealing with people and have excellent communication skills. Since most consumer service jobs also handle monetary transactions with customers, some technical know-how is also necessary.
If you like helping people and working with others, consumer services can be a highly rewarding career path. And, if you choose one of the jobs we’ll cover here, it can also be lucrative.
Top 13 Highest-Paying Jobs in Consumer Services
1. Patient care coordinator
Average salary for a patient care coordinator: $93,000
Growth projection: 7% over the next decade
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Patient care coordinators act as a liaison between the many parties involved in a person’s healthcare. They facilitate communication between different physicians, nurses, other members of the care team, and the patient themselves to ensure the care plan is being followed and executed properly. They also assist in matching patients with services they qualify for, like mental health programs and disability assistance.
2. Travel agent
Average salary for a travel agent: $51,300
Growth projection: 20% over the next decade
Education: High school diploma or GED
Nowadays, it’s easy for anyone to book flights and hotel rooms with a few taps on their smartphone. But, for those who are planning a complex or costly trip, the expertise of a travel agent may be a better route. A travel agent helps coordinate all aspects of a client’s trip, from transportation to lodging to entertainment, ensuring the experience is as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Many fringe benefits of the job include discounted trips to luxury resorts and once-in-a-lifetime experiences sponsored by hospitality companies looking to promote their services.
3. Flight attendant
Average salary for a flight attendant: $49,750
Growth projection: 21% over the next decade
Education: High school diploma or GED
If you love being on the go and meeting interesting people worldwide, you might love taking to the skies as a flight attendant. In addition to the obvious duties of helping travelers board the plane, flight attendants play a critical role in in-flight safety.
Some perks like flying for free and traveling to far-flung destinations on your company’s dime.
4. Hotel concierge
Average salary for a concierge: $35,100 plus tips
Growth projection: 11% over the next decade
Education: High school diploma or GED
Are you that person who always has an ‘in’ at the hottest new nightclub or the one all your friends turn to for a dinner recommendation? You’d make a great concierge, giving hotel guests the inside scoop on the best things to see, eat and do in your city.
5. Hotel manager
Average salary for a hotel manager: $82,400
Growth projection: 18% over the next decade
Education: Bachelor’s degree
From troubleshooting reservation mistakes to placing freshly-baked cookies in the lobby, the hospitality business is all about pleasing guests. If you enjoy going above and beyond to help others, you might be well suited to running your own hotel.
A hotel manager interacts with guests, solves problems, and oversees all aspects of a hotel’s operations.
6. Restaurant manager
Average salary for a restaurant manager: $59,300
Growth projection: 10% over the next decade
Education: High school diploma or GED
A restaurant manager is responsible for overseeing the back of house (a.k.a. kitchen) and front of house (dining room) operations to ensure everything is going smoothly. They also ensure the establishment complies with all health, safety, and food service standards.
It’s fast-paced and demanding with irregular hours, but it can be very enjoyable if you like working around food and talking to people.
7. Retail store manager
Average salary for a retail store manager: $69,000
Growth projection: 4% over the next decade
Education: High school diploma or GED
There are many moving parts in a retail store: stocking inventory, scheduling staff, handling the store’s finances, helping customers, and much more. The person responsible for making it all happen is the store manager.
To be a successful store manager, you’ll need to be organized, patient, and calm under pressure.
8. Financial advisor
Average salary for a financial advisor: $81,200
Growth projection: 15.4% over the next decade
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Are you smart with money? If you’re reading this list, chances are you intend to be! You might be in the perfect position to help others manage their nickels and dimes as a financial advisor.
A financial advisor helps clients choose the right investments to achieve their financial objectives while managing risk.
9. Mortgage loan officer
Average Salary for a mortgage loan officer: $107,000
Growth projection: 3.5% over the next decade
Education: High school diploma or GED plus MLO license
Getting a home loan is a complicated process. A mortgage loan officer helps customers navigate it, compiling all the required documents to assess whether an applicant qualifies for a loan and how much.
Loan officers work for banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, and other financial institutions.
10. Technical support specialist
Average salary for a technical support specialist: $42,850
Growth projection: 6% over the next decade
Education: Associate’s degree
Some people find technology problems frustrating and overwhelming. Others view them as an engaging challenge. If you’re in the latter group, consider a job as a technical support specialist, where you’ll help customers troubleshoot problems with their hardware and software. In addition to technical capabilities, you’ll need strong communication skills.
11. Fitness center manager
Average salary for a fitness center manager: $57,000
Growth projection: 19% over the next decade
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Being a fitness center manager is a great way to combine your passion for physical fitness with your organizational and managerial skills. You’ll oversee gym staff, create wellness programming, recruit new members and comply with all health and safety regulations.
12. Personal shopper
Average salary for a personal shopper: $60,000
Growth projection: 4% over the next decade
Education: None
Shopping with a friend is fun, but what’s even more enjoyable? Getting paid to do it! A personal shopper makes money shopping for others, purchasing anything from groceries to clothing to home décor. Personal shoppers help their clients save time while selecting the right items, often making recommendations based on their style and budget.
13. Event planner
Average salary for an event planner: $46,420
Growth projection: 18% over the next decade
Education: Bachelor’s degree
The most amazing events are defined by the details, like stunning floral arrangements, personalized invitations, or a spot-on playlist. If you thrive on these kinds of details and have a knack for organization, you can make great money as an event planner.
It’s not uncommon for top earners to bring in six figures, especially in the lucrative wedding industry.
Advantages of Pursuing a Career in Consumer Services
As you can see, consumer services jobs are as diverse as they are interesting, but they all boil down to one common factor: helping people.
One of the best parts about consumer service jobs is that the skills are transferable, meaning if you try out one role and find it’s not quite a fit, you can easily transition your communication and problem-solving skills to a different role under the consumer service umbrella.
