Guide to the Service Industry: 2026

Key Takeaways

• You can find service industry jobs in a range of fields, including banking, retail trade, software development, medicine, and nonprofit work.

• The characteristics of a service industry worker include organizational and problem-solving prowess, the ability to work well within a team, and effective time management.

• A simple service industry definition you can use to better understand what the service industry is might include an explanation of the difference between a good and a service: Services are intangible actions or processes, whereas goods are manufactured products you can touch.

Five examples of a service include childcare, garbage pickup, personal coaching, television repair, and massage. Continue reading to determine whether you might enjoy a service-oriented career by getting a clear definition of the service industry and exploring some examples of service-related jobs. Then, find answers to more of your questions about working in the service industry, such as the fields that make up the industry and the skills and characteristics of service industry workers.

Afterward, consider enrolling in the CVS Health Retail Customer Service Professional Certificate program to gain skills you can use within the service industry. In this program, you’ll have the opportunity to develop de-escalation techniques, call center experience, selling techniques, and more.

What is the service industry?

The service industry comprises economic activities that involve actions or processes people pay for because they desire them, need them, or both. It plays an essential role in the economy because all economic activity involves either services or goods. Goods consist of manufactured products, including home appliances, and products derived from raw materials, such as gasoline or garden crops. Services differ from goods in three crucial ways. You can't touch them, store them, or transport them like you can goods.

What are examples of a service?

Individuals, businesses, and governments in fields such as banking, retail trade, software development, medicine, and nonprofit work provide services that make up the service industry. Specific examples of a service include the following:

• Childcare

• City bus services

• Garbage pickup

• Haircuts and styling

• Personal coaching

• Television repair

• Therapeutic massage

What companies are in the service industry?

Companies in the service industry are wide-ranging and include personal services providers such as the Western Union Company and Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, as well as television broadcasting companies such as CBS Corporation and Scripps Networks Interactive. Other companies in the service industry include Gartner, Inc., Expedia, Inc., Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., and The Brinks Company.

6 examples of service industry jobs

With numerous job opportunities available, the service industry offers a wide range of career options. Depending on your job, you may work for an employer or for yourself.

Explore six examples of service-oriented jobs. Note that a median salary represents the midpoint for earners in a profession. Approximately 50 percent of earners in the given role earn less than the median, and 50 percent earn more.

1. Accountant

Median annual US salary: $83,680 [1]

Job outlook (2025 to 2035): 5 percent [1]

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree; certification optional

Accountants create and maintain financial records, prepare financial reports, and consult with clients about financial matters. As an accountant, you might choose to work for yourself, either by opening a firm or by providing freelance services. Alternatively, you might work for a private or public employer.

Read more: 8 Types of Accounting: Careers, Degrees, and Salaries

2. Civil engineer

Median annual US salary: $100,840 [2]

Job outlook (2025 to 2035): 6 percent [2]

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree; states typically require licensure

A civil engineer plans and designs public and private structures like airports, bridges, dams, and tunnels. In this role, you can work for a private firm or work for your city, state, or federal government.

3. Elementary school teacher

Median annual US salary: $63,820 [3]

Job outlook (2025 to 2035): The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 99,400 job openings per year for kindergarten and elementary school teachers [3].

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree at a minimum; state-issued licensure or certification

Elementary school teachers prepare children for middle school by teaching subjects such as math, reading, and science. They also supervise children at recess and communicate with their parents regarding educational progress and in-school behavior.

4. Event planner

Median annual US salary: $61,160 [4]

Job outlook (2025 to 2035): 6 percent [4]

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree; relevant experience may help job candidates

Event planners arrange the setup, cleanup, and vendors for various events, from work conferences to weddings. Event vendors might include supply companies, caterers, photographers, limousine services, or hotel shuttles. As an event planner, you have options regarding where you work, including working for a specific employer or starting your own business.

5. Interior designer

Median annual US salary: $67,190 [5]

Job outlook (2025to 2035): 3 percent [5]

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree

Interior designers consult with clients to beautify rooms in their homes or businesses. As an interior designer, you might sketch a design layout, plan a budget, purchase materials, and arrange furniture and other design elements.

6. Market research analyst

Median annual US salary: $78,760 [6]

Job outlook (2025 to 2035): 7 percent [6]

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree; some employers require a master’s degree

Market research analysts help promote products or services by gathering and studying market data. To collect data, research analysts assess competitor websites, social media, and industry news and use questionnaires, surveys, polls, and focus groups. In this position, you can work for any company conducting market research.

Learn more about the service industry with our free resources

Stay updated on the latest career trends with our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat! Then, browse our other free resources:

• Take the quiz: Career Test: What Career Is Right for Me Quiz?

• Watch on YouTube: Career Spotlight: Customer Service Representative

• Read our Career Chat issue: Leadership for Engineers: How One Manager Is Investing in Himself and His Team

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)