How much does a vehicle cleaner make?
a year · about $17 an hour
A typical vehicle cleaner in the United States makes $35,830 a year, about $17 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They rinse and scrub a vehicle with soap, clean the windows, then dry and polish it. They may vacuum inside, wax the paint, and check for missed dirt or damage.
Did you know? Some vehicle cleaners use paintbrushes to clean plastic parts inside cars—much more detailed than just spraying a car with a hose.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $27,380 and $47,610How do you become one?
Apply for an entry-level wash or detailing job; employers teach you the tools, and some want a high-school diploma or GED. In the U.S., federal rules generally allow work from age 14, but under-16 workers face task and hour limits, and state rules may be stricter.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience and skill matter: detailers who polish or wax may do more specialized work than beginners. Pay also differs by employer and location; training or credentials an employer values can help, and extra hours or shift premiums can change total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Alaska ($40,210), lowest in Louisiana ($27,600).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $27,380 | $35,830 | $47,610 | about 380,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $40,210 | about 620 |
| Washington | $40,070 | about 8,000 |
| Colorado | $39,610 | about 7,000 |
| Vermont | $39,530 | about 620 |
| New York | $39,390 | about 20,000 |
Official definition: Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses. Excludes “Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners” (37-2011).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/53-7061.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes537061.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.dol.gov/general/topic/youthlabor/agerequirements
- www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/whd/youthrules/YouthRulesBrochure.pdf
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY