Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
SOC code 53-6031 · O*NET-SOC 53-6031.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Transportation
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$35,670
a year
Hourly
$17.15
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$36,780
$17.68 per hour
Middle 50%
$31,300 – $39,320
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$28,630 – $46,060
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
102,010
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $28,630
- $13.76/hr
- 25th percentile
- $31,300
- $15.05/hr
- Median percentile
- $35,670
- $17.15/hr
- 75th percentile
- $39,320
- $18.90/hr
- 90th percentile
- $46,060
- $22.14/hr
What do automotive and watercraft service attendants do?
Service automobiles, buses, trucks, boats, and other automotive or marine vehicles with fuel, lubricants, and accessories. Collect payment for services and supplies. May lubricate vehicle, change motor oil, refill antifreeze, or replace lights or other accessories, such as windshield wiper blades or fan belts. May repair or replace tires.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Collect cash payments from customers, and make change or charge purchases to customers' credit cards, providing customers with receipts.
- Check tire pressure and levels of fuel, motor oil, transmission, radiator, battery, or other fluids, adding air or fluids as required.
- Prepare daily reports of fuel, oil, and accessory sales.
- Perform minor repairs, such as adjusting brakes, replacing spark plugs, or changing engine oil or filters.
- Clean windshields.
- Clean parking areas, offices, restrooms, or equipment, and remove trash.
- Order stock, and price and shelve incoming goods.
- Activate fuel pumps and fill fuel tanks of vehicles with gasoline or diesel fuel to specified levels.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 59% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)59%
- Post-Secondary Certificate23%
- Less than a High School Diploma16%
- Some College Courses2%
Common questions
How much does an automotive and watercraft service attendants earn?
The national median is $35,670 a year. The full range runs from $28,630 at the 10th percentile to $46,060 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an automotive and watercraft service attendants without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.1/5
- Speaking3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.6/5
- Mechanical4.4/5
- Sales and Marketing4.0/5
- Administration and Management3.8/5
- Mathematics3.3/5
- Administrative3.0/5
- Engineering and Technology3.0/5
- Education and Training3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Operation and Control, Time Management, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Equipment Maintenance.