Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
SOC code 53-7061 · O*NET-SOC 53-7061.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Transportation
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$35,830
a year
Hourly
$17.23
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$36,980
$17.78 per hour
Middle 50%
$30,420 – $41,040
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$27,380 – $47,610
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
380,430
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $27,380
- $13.17/hr
- 25th percentile
- $30,420
- $14.62/hr
- Median percentile
- $35,830
- $17.23/hr
- 75th percentile
- $41,040
- $19.73/hr
- 90th percentile
- $47,610
- $22.89/hr
What do cleaners of vehicles and equipment do?
Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Clean the plastic work inside cars, using paintbrushes.
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 54% 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)54%
- Less than a High School Diploma24%
- Some College Courses20%
- Post-Secondary Certificate2%
Common questions
How much does a cleaners of vehicles and equipment earn?
The national median is $35,830 a year. The full range runs from $27,380 at the 10th percentile to $47,610 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a cleaners of vehicles and equipment 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
- Monitoring2.8/5
- Speaking2.6/5
- Active Listening2.5/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service3.5/5
- English Language3.3/5
- Transportation3.1/5
- Administration and Management2.9/5
- Public Safety and Security2.9/5
- Production and Processing2.8/5
- Mechanical2.6/5
- Education and Training2.5/5
Transferable strengths: Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Time Management.