Occupation · SOC 53-7061
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.
Median wage
$35,270
$26,740–$47,150
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
373,960
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
0 mapped
Core skills
Operation and ControlQuality Control Analysis
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageTransportation
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareInventory management softwareOperating system software
Representative 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.Pre-soak or rinse machine parts, equipment, or vehicles by immersing objects in cleaning solutions or water, manually or using hoists.Turn valves or disconnect hoses to eliminate water, cleaning solutions, or vapors from machinery or tanks.Turn valves or handles on equipment to regulate pressure or flow of water, air, steam, or abrasives from sprayer nozzles.Monitor operation of cleaning machines and stop machines or notify supervisors when malfunctions occur.Sweep, shovel, or vacuum loose debris or salvageable scrap into containers and remove containers from work areas.Press buttons to activate cleaning equipment or machines.Connect hoses or lines to pumps or other equipment.Clean the plastic work inside cars, using paintbrushes.Disassemble and reassemble machines or equipment or remove and reattach vehicle parts or trim, using hand tools.Lubricate machinery, vehicles, or equipment or perform minor repairs or adjustments, using hand tools.Transport materials, equipment, or supplies to or from work areas, using carts or hoists.Fit boot spoilers, side skirts, or mud flaps to cars.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Rinsing and drying procedures — follow step-by-step under direct supervision using squeegees, cloths, and air compressors on customer vehicles at a commercial wash facility.Scrubbing and spraying tools — select and apply basic brushes, hoses, and cloths to remove surface dirt from vehicles under close guidance at an entry-level wash station.Vehicle windows — clean and wipe down using approved solutions and lint-free cloths following standard protocols on a supervised detail shift.Cleaning solutions — measure and mix pre-formulated compounds according to posted formulas under supervisor instruction in a vehicle-cleaning shop.Protective products — apply basic wax or polish to exterior vehicle surfaces following labeled directions under direct oversight at a detail bay.Supply inventory — count and report stock levels of cleaning materials to a supervisor using a paper checklist or simple inventory log.Cleanliness inspection — identify obvious dirt, residue, or missed areas on a finished vehicle using a basic visual checklist before handoff to a lead.Safety and chemical labels — read and follow hazard warnings on cleaning agents and disinfectants under guidance to prevent injury in a shop environment.Customer vehicles — move or reposition cars short distances within a facility lot following verbal directions from a supervisor.Work area standards — keep tools, hoses, and supplies organized at an assigned workstation following housekeeping rules set by a team lead.
developing
Drying techniques — select and apply the appropriate method — cloth, squeegee, or air compressor — based on vehicle type and surface material with minimal oversight at a mid-volume detail shop.Paint, wax, and reconditioner application — apply multiple finishing products in correct sequence to preserve and restore vehicle color and gloss during routine detail jobs with limited supervision.Window cleaning — clean and polish interior and exterior glass surfaces to a streak-free standard across varied vehicle types on a scheduled customer service workflow.Cleaning compound formulation — mix solutions and abrasive compositions from documented formulas, adjusting concentrations for soil level or surface type in a production cleaning environment.Scraping and decontamination — use scrapers, abrasives, and disinfectants to remove stubborn deposits or biological matter from equipment or fleet vehicles on a regular service rotation.Vehicle transport — safely drive customer or fleet vehicles to and from workshop bays or customer locations following traffic regulations and company driving policies.Quality inspection — inspect completed vehicles or equipment against cleanliness and condition standards, documenting deficiencies and correcting work before customer delivery.Inventory tracking — record supply usage and submit restocking requests using inventory management software to maintain uninterrupted operations at a commercial cleaning facility.Scheduling awareness — reference calendar and scheduling software to prioritize daily job assignments and meet customer appointment windows without supervisor prompting.Multi-surface equipment cleaning — adapt scrubbing and spray methods to machinery, fleet trucks, or specialty vehicles encountered in a transportation or industrial maintenance setting.
proficient
Full-service detail workflow — independently execute complete interior and exterior detailing processes — including polish, wax, and conditioning — to brand standards across diverse vehicle classes at a high-throughput detail center.Advanced surface restoration — diagnose paint condition, select appropriate reconditioners or masking materials, and execute restoration treatments on vehicles with significant oxidation or surface damage.Glass care expertise — assess and resolve recurring streaking, hazing, or contamination issues on vehicle windows using advanced techniques and appropriate specialty products.Complex solution formulation — develop and adjust cleaning compound ratios for non-routine soiling conditions — such as industrial residue or hazardous material spills — using chemical reference guides and personal experience.Compliance inspection — conduct thorough post-service inspections against regulatory and client-specific standards, identifying damage liability issues and compliance gaps before vehicle release.Fleet driving coordination — transport multiple vehicles between sites across varied road conditions, applying sound judgment on vehicle handling and customer property care.Equipment and vehicle triage — evaluate incoming vehicles or machinery for cleanliness needs, damage risks, and workload estimation to allocate resources and set realistic job timelines.Inventory management — maintain accurate perpetual inventory records using dedicated software, identify usage trends, and coordinate procurement to prevent supply shortages at a busy facility.Chemical safety compliance — ensure all mixing, storage, and disposal of cleaning agents meets OSHA and facility safety protocols, resolving non-compliance issues independently.Customer service problem-solving — address quality concerns or damage claims raised by customers or fleet managers by investigating root causes and proposing corrective actions on the spot.
advanced
Team performance standards — establish cleaning and detailing quality benchmarks for a full crew, coaching emerging and developing workers through demonstration and structured feedback at a commercial vehicle service operation.Workflow system design — develop shift schedules, job routing sequences, and task assignments using scheduling and database software to maximize throughput and on-time customer delivery across a multi-bay facility.Training program development — create onboarding procedures and skills progression guides covering chemical use, surface restoration, and compliance inspection for new hires entering a Job Zone 2 cleaning workforce.Inventory and procurement strategy — oversee supply chain decisions for cleaning chemicals, tools, and equipment, negotiating with vendors and using inventory management software to control costs at an organizational level.Quality assurance system — design and implement a multi-point vehicle inspection protocol that ensures consistent regulatory and client-standard compliance across all technicians and service lines.Safety culture leadership — lead facility-wide safety reviews, update chemical handling and equipment operation procedures, and drive a culture of cautiousness and integrity among all team members.Fleet and client relationship management — serve as the primary operational contact for large fleet accounts or institutional clients, resolving escalated service issues and negotiating service agreements.Technology adoption — evaluate and implement new operating system, database, or scheduling software tools that improve operational visibility and reduce administrative burden across the cleaning department.Performance metrics and accountability — track team-level key performance indicators — including job completion rates, rework incidents, and supply costs — and use data to drive continuous improvement decisions.Cross-functional coordination — align vehicle cleaning operations with transportation dispatch, maintenance, and customer service teams to ensure vehicles meet readiness standards within organizational workflows.
Also known as
240 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Car CleanerRoll PickerSand BlasterFilter Screen CleanerFurniture CleanerGround Transportation Helper (Air Force 2T111)Wash and GreaserPress WasherTelephone SterilizerReconditionerSpinneret CleanerLot Technician (Lot Tech)Bottle CleanerAircraft CleanerMission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance Helper, Firefighting and Refueling Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance (Air Force 2T311A)Roll CleanerCesspool CleanerCasing CleanerSaw CleanerGround Transportation Craftsman (Air Force 2T171)Brick CleanerMission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance Apprentice (Air Force 2T331)Char PullerCar DryerGrit BlasterCurve CleanerVat CleanerOil Tank Car CleanerAutomotive Cleaner (Auto Cleaner)Vat WasherDetail Technician (Detail Tech)Sanitation Truck CleanerSuction Plate Carrier CleanerBoiler BlowerWash WorkerVehicle CarwasherCore CleanerGlobe CleanerBarrel WasherVehicle Detailer