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Automotive Service and Repair
AutoNation, Jiffy Lube, Pep Boys
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
This job is hands-on cleaning work in wash bays, garages, lots, or customer sites, where workers remove dirt, grease, and grime from vehicles, machinery, and parts. The hard part is the tradeoff between speed and thoroughness: you need to move quickly without missing damage, residue, or safety issues that a bad cleaning job can hide.
Also known as Vehicle DetailerAuto DetailerFleet CleanerWash Bay AttendantEquipment Detailer
Median Salary
$35,270
Mean $36,290
U.S. Workforce
~374K
56.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.9%
410.1K to 426.2K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~374K workers, with a median annual pay of $35,270 and roughly 56.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 410.1 K in 2024 to 426.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High School Diploma, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Wash Bay Helper and can progress toward Cleaning Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Cleaning Chemicals, Dilution Ratios & Surface-Safe Mixing, Pressure Washers, Steam Cleaners & Vacuum Systems, and Inspection Checklists & Cleanliness Standards, paired with soft skills such as Time Management, Active Listening, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Mix cleaning chemicals with water or other compounds so they are safe and strong enough for the job.
- Soak or rinse parts, equipment, or vehicles before scrubbing them.
- Scrub, spray, and wash away grease, dirt, and buildup using brushes, hoses, vacuums, and cleaning tools.
- Hook up hoses, pumps, or other equipment needed to do the cleaning.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Mix cleaning chemicals with water or other compounds so they are safe and strong enough for the job.
02 Soak or rinse parts, equipment, or vehicles before scrubbing them.
03 Scrub, spray, and wash away grease, dirt, and buildup using brushes, hoses, vacuums, and cleaning tools.
04 Hook up hoses, pumps, or other equipment needed to do the cleaning.
05 Move vehicles in and out of work areas or to customer locations when needed.
06 Check the finished job for missed dirt, damage, and whether it meets the required standard.
Industries That Hire
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Car Wash and Detailing
Mister Car Wash, Zips Car Wash, Autobell
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Freight and Logistics
UPS, FedEx, Schneider
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Public Transit and Rail
Amtrak, BART, Metro
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Equipment Rental and Construction Support
United Rentals, Sunbelt Rentals, Caterpillar
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can usually get started without a degree, and BLS says the job typically needs only short-term on-the-job training.
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There are about 56.2K annual openings, so workers often find steady demand even if the work itself is routine.
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The job is very hands-on, which appeals to people who prefer visible results over desk work.
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Employment is projected to grow from 410.1K in 2024 to 426.2K by 2034, a gain of 3.9%.
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You can work in different settings such as car washes, fleet yards, dealerships, transit depots, and equipment shops.
Challenges
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Pay is modest: the median annual wage is $35,270, so it is not a strong fit if you need rapid income growth.
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The work is physically demanding because it involves bending, lifting, scrubbing, spraying, and moving equipment for most of the day.
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You are often around grease, grime, chemicals, and dirty parts, which can be unpleasant and sometimes hazardous without good safety habits.
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The career ceiling can be narrow; many workers stay in similar pay bands unless they move into supervision or another trade.
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Some employers treat cleaning as a low-cost support function, which can keep wages down and make the job vulnerable to outsourcing or automation of simpler wash tasks.
Career Progression
Wash Bay Helper
0-1 years
$28K-$31K
Learns the workflow, keeps supplies ready, moves vehicles, and handles basic prep and cleanup.
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
1-3 years
$32K-$38K
Takes on full cleaning jobs, from mixing solutions and washing surfaces to checking the final result.
Lead Cleaner THIS ROLE
3-6 years
$39K-$46K
Handles harder jobs, checks quality, and helps train newer workers or coordinate work in the bay.
Cleaning Supervisor
6+ years
$47K-$58K
Schedules work, sets standards, manages supplies, and deals with customer or fleet issues.
Education Paths
High School Diploma
This is the most common schooling level in O*NET, held by 54.02% of workers in this role.
Less Than a High School Diploma
This path still appears often, at 23.76%, because many employers care more about reliability, physical stamina, and willingness to learn than formal schooling.
No Formal Educational Credential
BLS lists this as the typical entry point, with no prior work experience required and only short-term on-the-job training.
Post-Secondary Certificate in Automotive Detailing or a Related Trade
This is a less common route, shown at 2.27%, but it can help when applying for fleet, dealership, or specialty cleaning jobs.
Key Skills
Technical
Cleaning Chemicals, Dilution Ratios & Surface-Safe Mixing 60%
Pressure Washers, Steam Cleaners & Vacuum Systems 60%
Inspection Checklists & Cleanliness Standards 58%
Cleaning Equipment Monitoring & Maintenance Checks 55%
Hoses, Pumps & Bay Equipment Setup 52%
Soft Skills
Time ManagementActive ListeningSpeakingService OrientationTeamworkAttention to Detail Job Outlook and Trends
+3.9%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
56.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 410.1K to 426.2 K over the next decade, representing 3.9% growth. Around 56.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.