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.
Also called: Aircraft Cabin Cleaner, Aircraft Cleaner, Aircraft Detailer, Airplane Cleaner, Apparatus Cleaner, Apron Cleaner
Median pay
$35,830
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$27,380 – $47,610
People employed
380,430
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 2.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 3.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 4.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 5.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 6.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 7.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What cleaners of vehicles and equipment do
- 01Rinse objects and place them on drying racks or use cloth, squeegees, or air compressors to dry surfaces.
- 02Apply paints, dyes, polishes, reconditioners, waxes, or masking materials to vehicles to preserve, protect, or restore color or condition.
- 03Clean and polish vehicle windows.
- 04Drive vehicles to or from workshops or customers' workplaces or homes.
- 05Scrub, scrape, or spray machine parts, equipment, or vehicles, using scrapers, brushes, clothes, cleaners, disinfectants, insecticides, acid, abrasives, vacuums, or hoses.
- 06Clean the plastic work inside cars, using paintbrushes.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Transportation
- Administration and Management
- Public Safety and Security
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners88% · +39%
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers84% · −3%
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders80% · +21%
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders77% · +52%
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders77% · +35%
Change into cleaners of vehicles and equipment
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers84% · $34,890
- Aircraft Service Attendants83% · $40,450
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants80% · $35,670
- Dishwashers79% · $34,810
- Tire Repairers and Changers79% · $37,710