Cleaners of vehicles and equipment salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,380 | $13.17 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $35,830 | $17.23 |
| Mean (average) | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| 90th percentile | $47,610 | $22.89 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Cleaners of vehicles and equipment pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,360 | $23,580 | $41,600 | 6,440 | 1.25 |
| Alaska | $40,210 | $35,660 | $58,330 | 620 | 0.78 |
| Arizona | $35,410 | $31,200 | $46,710 | 6,260 | 0.79 |
| Arkansas | $34,970 | $26,840 | $42,420 | 5,140 | 1.61 |
| California | $37,920 | $34,890 | $49,090 | 46,030 | 1.03 |
| Colorado | $39,610 | $35,350 | $49,440 | 6,750 | 0.96 |
| Connecticut | $35,870 | $34,010 | $45,910 | 3,480 | 0.84 |
| Delaware | $37,440 | $31,200 | $44,100 | 1,280 | 1.08 |
| District of Columbia | $42,710 | $36,400 | $54,540 | 350 | 0.21 |
| Florida | $33,380 | $28,310 | $45,130 | 24,920 | 1.03 |
| Georgia | $30,610 | $23,880 | $46,130 | 12,180 | 1.02 |
| Guam | $21,980 | $20,650 | $25,650 | 140 | 0.86 |
| Hawaii | $37,560 | $31,670 | $53,510 | 1,180 | 0.77 |
| Idaho | $35,640 | $26,440 | $44,430 | 2,840 | 1.35 |
| Illinois | $35,930 | $31,200 | $55,990 | 16,350 | 1.1 |
| Indiana | $34,940 | $26,980 | $47,920 | 7,520 | 0.96 |
| Iowa | $35,920 | $28,120 | $45,370 | 4,190 | 1.1 |
| Kansas | $37,370 | $28,620 | $46,070 | 6,410 | 1.82 |
| Kentucky | $34,470 | $27,260 | $49,750 | 5,580 | 1.14 |
| Louisiana | $27,600 | $21,210 | $43,980 | 4,140 | 0.88 |
| Maine | $37,440 | $30,910 | $50,090 | 1,150 | 0.73 |
| Maryland | $36,390 | $31,200 | $56,130 | 6,010 | 0.89 |
| Massachusetts | $38,630 | $32,830 | $48,550 | 5,100 | 0.57 |
| Michigan | $33,890 | $25,960 | $45,140 | 10,320 | 0.96 |
| Minnesota | $37,580 | $30,950 | $47,690 | 4,460 | 0.62 |
| Mississippi | $28,640 | $21,040 | $37,730 | 2,790 | 0.98 |
| Missouri | $34,670 | $28,600 | $46,630 | 9,150 | 1.27 |
| Montana | $36,510 | $29,330 | $46,800 | 1,490 | 1.19 |
| Nebraska | $37,160 | $30,060 | $50,320 | 4,570 | 1.82 |
| Nevada | $34,230 | $25,790 | $44,120 | 3,790 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | $37,420 | $30,200 | $48,120 | 1,030 | 0.62 |
| New Jersey | $37,090 | $32,220 | $46,440 | 9,930 | 0.95 |
| New Mexico | $30,310 | $26,860 | $41,140 | 1,820 | 0.85 |
| New York | $39,390 | $33,640 | $72,180 | 20,390 | 0.86 |
| North Carolina | $33,470 | $22,530 | $44,520 | 13,820 | 1.14 |
| North Dakota | $37,290 | $30,130 | $46,190 | 1,330 | 1.26 |
| Ohio | $35,230 | $27,120 | $45,670 | 13,750 | 1.01 |
| Oklahoma | $30,880 | $23,020 | $44,800 | 5,080 | 1.22 |
| Oregon | $38,070 | $33,160 | $50,540 | 5,550 | 1.15 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,650 | $25,420 | $46,930 | 11,710 | 0.79 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,890 | $21,840 | $29,650 | 1,310 | 0.57 |
| Rhode Island | $37,340 | $31,200 | $51,990 | 780 | 0.63 |
| South Carolina | $34,230 | $22,930 | $42,970 | 5,720 | 1.01 |
| South Dakota | $35,050 | $27,910 | $43,040 | 1,510 | 1.35 |
| Tennessee | $34,950 | $26,350 | $47,330 | 8,420 | 1.05 |
| Texas | $29,450 | $22,930 | $43,430 | 37,750 | 1.1 |
| Utah | $34,900 | $28,450 | $45,090 | 4,580 | 1.08 |
| Vermont | $39,530 | $31,920 | $49,250 | 620 | 0.84 |
| Virgin Islands | $28,290 | $22,230 | $36,610 | 30 | 0.41 |
| Virginia | $34,450 | $27,540 | $47,500 | 8,860 | 0.88 |
| Washington | $40,070 | $35,470 | $52,120 | 8,270 | 0.95 |
| West Virginia | $29,390 | $23,920 | $36,730 | 1,260 | 0.74 |
| Wisconsin | $35,280 | $26,270 | $47,370 | 7,040 | 0.98 |
| Wyoming | $33,890 | $27,340 | $42,600 | 720 | 1.05 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 51,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 7.9%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Rinse objects and place them on drying racks or use cloth, squeegees, or air compressors to dry surfaces.
- Apply paints, dyes, polishes, reconditioners, waxes, or masking materials to vehicles to preserve, protect, or restore color or condition.
- Clean and polish vehicle windows.
- Drive vehicles to or from workshops or customers' workplaces or homes.
- Scrub, scrape, or spray machine parts, equipment, or vehicles, using scrapers, brushes, clothes, cleaners, disinfectants, insecticides, acid, abrasives, vacuums, or hoses.
- Inspect parts, equipment, or vehicles for cleanliness, damage, and compliance with standards or regulations.
- Mix cleaning solutions, abrasive compositions, or other compounds, according to formulas.
- Maintain inventories of supplies.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Bella FSM Auto Detailing Service Software
- BookFresh
- Green Cloud KleanTRAC
- Inventory tracking software
- Thoughtful Systems Scheduling Manager for Auto Detailing
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Time Management, Service Orientation, Coordination.
Common job titles: Aircraft Cleaner, Automotive Detailer (Auto Detailer), Bus Cleaner, Car Detailer, Car Washer, Cleaner, Detail Technician (Detail Tech), Detailer, Reconditioner, Sanitation Truck Cleaner.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cleaners of vehicles and equipment make?
The national median annual wage for cleaners of vehicles and equipment was $35,830 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $27,380 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $47,610. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do cleaners of vehicles and equipment need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is cleaners of vehicles and equipment a growing career?
BLS projects employment of cleaners of vehicles and equipment to change +3.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 51,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay cleaners of vehicles and equipment the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($42,710), Alaska ($40,210), Washington ($40,070). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.