Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment fall under the Transportation and Material Moving category in the U.S. occupational classification. Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment earn a median salary of $35,270 per year, ranking in the top 95% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.9% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do cleaners of vehicles and equipment earn?

The median annual wage for cleaners of vehicles and equipment is $35,270. That puts cleaners of vehicles and equipment at #768 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is cleaners of vehicles and equipment a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for cleaners of vehicles and equipment is +3.9%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 410K positions in 2024 to 426K in 2034, a net change of 16K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do cleaners of vehicles and equipment do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working cleaners of vehicles and equipment, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Apply paints, dyes, polishes, reconditioners, waxes, or masking materials to vehicles to preserve, protect, or restore color or condition.
2. 2.Drive vehicles to or from workshops or customers' workplaces or homes.
3. 3.Turn valves or disconnect hoses to eliminate water, cleaning solutions, or vapors from machinery or tanks.
4. 4.Connect hoses or lines to pumps or other equipment.
5. 5.Rinse objects and place them on drying racks or use cloth, squeegees, or air compressors to dry surfaces.
6. 6.Maintain inventories of supplies.
7. 7.Press buttons to activate cleaning equipment or machines.
8. 8.Clean and polish vehicle windows.

Top skills for cleaners of vehicles and equipment

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become cleaners of vehicles and equipment?

Many cleaners of vehicles and equipment enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
  $226,600 median
• Air Traffic Controllers
  $144,580 median
• Commercial Pilots
  $122,670 median
• Ship Engineers
  $101,320 median
• Transportation Inspectors
  $85,750 median
• Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
  $85,540 median

Common questions parents ask about cleaners of vehicles and equipment