Parking Attendants: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Parking Attendants fall under the Transportation and Material Moving category in the U.S. occupational classification. Parking Attendants earn a median salary of $34,600 per year, ranking in the top 96% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.0% 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 parking attendants earn?

The median annual wage for parking attendants is $34,600. That puts parking attendants at #780 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 parking attendants a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for parking attendants is +3.0%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 135K positions in 2024 to 139K in 2034, a net change of 4K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do parking attendants do every day?

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

1. 1.Take numbered tags from customers, locate vehicles, and deliver vehicles, or provide customers with instructions for locating vehicles.
2. 2.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.
3. 3.Provide customer assistance and information, such as giving directions or handling wheelchairs.
4. 4.Park and retrieve automobiles for customers in parking lots, storage garages, or new car lots.
5. 5.Keep parking areas clean and orderly to ensure that space usage is maximized.
6. 6.Call emergency responders or the proper authorities and provide motorist assistance, such as giving directions or helping jump start a stalled vehicle.
7. 7.Inspect vehicles to detect any damage.
8. 8.Greet customers and open their car doors.

Top skills for parking attendants

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 parking attendant?

Many parking attendants 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 parking attendants