Parking Attendants
SOC code 53-6021 · O*NET-SOC 53-6021.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Transportation
Parking Attendants pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$35,150
a year
Hourly
$16.90
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$34,990
$16.82 per hour
Middle 50%
$29,960 – $37,670
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$27,040 – $44,550
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
137,880
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $27,040
- $13.00/hr
- 25th percentile
- $29,960
- $14.41/hr
- Median percentile
- $35,150
- $16.90/hr
- 75th percentile
- $37,670
- $18.11/hr
- 90th percentile
- $44,550
- $21.42/hr
What does a parking attendant do?
Park vehicles or issue tickets for customers in a parking lot or garage. May park or tend vehicles in environments such as a car dealership or rental car facility. May collect fee.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Take numbered tags from customers, locate vehicles, and deliver vehicles, or provide customers with instructions for locating vehicles.
- Inspect vehicles to detect any damage.
- Greet customers and open their car doors.
- Issue ticket stubs or place numbered tags on windshields, log tags or attach tag to customers' keys, and give customers matching tags for locating parked vehicles.
- Perform cash handling tasks, such as making change, balancing and recording cash drawer, or distributing tips.
- Patrol parking areas to prevent vehicle damage and vehicle or property thefts.
- Explain and calculate parking charges, collect fees from customers, and respond to customer complaints.
- Park and retrieve automobiles for customers in parking lots, storage garages, or new car lots.
How to become a parking attendant
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 61% 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)61%
- Less than a High School Diploma38%
- Bachelor's Degree1%
Common questions
How much does a parking attendant earn?
The national median is $35,150 a year. The full range runs from $27,040 at the 10th percentile to $44,550 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 parking attendant 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
- Speaking3.5/5
- Active Listening3.3/5
- Critical Thinking2.9/5
- Writing2.8/5
- Mathematics2.8/5
- Monitoring2.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service3.5/5
- English Language3.1/5
- Transportation3.0/5
- Public Safety and Security2.7/5
- Mathematics2.5/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making.