8 Service Jobs That Pay Well and Beat Inflation

A service job may be a good chance to earn more and keep up with rising costs.

By Jenny Cohen

Edited by Ellen Cannon

Updated Aug. 24, 2024

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It can be hard to combat inflation when prices go up but your salary doesn’t rise by the same amount.

But some service jobs, just like those in other industries, have seen salary increases greater than inflation to help workers keep up. Unfortunately, working in other service jobs may have you falling behind.

Which jobs have the most success and which salaries have floundered? A FinanceBuzz study examined data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to find out which service workers are keeping up with inflation and which workers may need a side hustle while working a full-time job to boost their income above the inflation rate.

Data is based on the rate of inflation between 2013 and 2023, which was 31%.

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Security guards

2013 salary: $27,550
2023 salary: $40,440 (+47%)
Salary above inflation: 16%

There were more than 1.1 million positions for security guards in the U.S. in 2022, which means employment may be easy if you’re looking for a job in that field. Security guards usually need at least a high school diploma to qualify for a position.

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Child care workers

2013 salary: $21,490
2023 salary: $32,070 (+49%)
Salary above inflation: 18%

Child care workers usually need a high school diploma and can get on-the-job training if you don’t have previous experience in the field. You can also get child care certification to increase your appeal to potential employers.

Cashiers

2013 salary: $20,420
2023 salary: $30,710 (+50%)
Salary above inflation: 19%

According to the BLS, more than 3.3 million workers were cashiers in 2022, working in a variety of settings. You don’t need a formal education, which makes the position appealing to all education levels.

Working as a cashier may let you work in a field that interests you, such as retail, and be a part of the team at a store you frequent as a customer.

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Cooks

2013 salary: $22,440
2023 salary: $34,360 (+53%)
Salary above inflation: 22%

Positions for cooks are expected to grow more than 6% between 2022 and 2032. If you love to cook, work in a restaurant, or serve as a private chef, this may be an appealing career that will keep you employed in the future.

House cleaners

2013 salary: $22,130
2023 salary: $34,650 (+57%)
Salary above inflation: 26%

Housekeepers can work in a variety of settings from private residential homes to professional buildings.

A majority of house cleaners work in travel settings like hotels and motels, making it a particularly good option if you live in a city popular with tourists or an area with a variety of travel accommodations.

Fast-food workers

2013 salary: $18,980
2023 salary: $30,110 (+59%)
Salary above inflation: 28%

A recent FinanceBuzz study found a big increase in fast-food prices, with some rising more than inflation in the past decade. Part of that price increase could be attributed to higher wages for fast-food workers.

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Bartenders

2013 salary: $21,770
2023 salary: $37,090 (+70%)
Salary above inflation: 39%

Bartender positions are expected to grow by 3% in the next decade, which is as fast as the national average for all positions.

Bartenders don’t need formal training, and you can work on nights and weekends, which makes it a good option if you want a side hustle or don’t want a job with typical business hours.

Servers

2013 salary: $20,880
2023 salary: $36,530 (+75%)
Salary above inflation: 44%

Servers, like bartenders, work flexible hours, including nights and weekends. You might even take a job as a server to make extra money while working a full-time job. Servers, like bartenders, can also earn tips to boost their pay.

Bottom line

Some service jobs can be a great opportunity to try a new field or earn extra money in addition to a full-time income.

If you have a specific savings goal or want to establish an emergency fund, a service job as a side gig can help you reach it.

But if you want to make one of these jobs a full-time career, it’s good to know that wages have risen more than inflation over the past 10 years.

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