How to become a Car Wash Attendant

Car wash attendants wash, scrub and polish the exteriors of vehicles. They may also vacuum seats and carpets and clean door trims and hinges in the interior of vehicles.

Personal requirements for a Car Wash Attendant

  • Enjoy practical work
  • An eye for detail
  • Able to work without supervision
  • Able to cope with the physical demands of the job

Education & Training for a Car Wash Attendant

You can work as a car wash attendant without formal qualifications. You will probably get some informal training on the job. You can also become a car wash attendant through a traineeship. Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.


Additional information

You are usually required to have a drivers licence to be a car wash attendant.

Duties & Tasks of a Car Wash Attendant

Car wash attendants:

  • Vacuum, clean and maintain vehicle interiors, including dashboards, consoles, carpet and car seats
  • Clean door trims and hinges
  • Wash and polish vehicle exteriors and blacken tyres
  • Drive vehicles through automatic car washes.

Tasks

  • Emptying and cleaning compartments in vehicles
  • Washing and polishing vehicle windows
  • Applying cleaning agents to remove stains from vehicle interiors
  • May make minor repairs and touch up finishes to remove scratches
  • Vacuuming vehicle interiors, and drycleaning carpets and upholstery
  • Washing, drying, polishing and waxing vehicle exteriors
  • Washing tyres and wheel arches, and blackening tyres

Employment Opportunities for a Car Wash Attendant

Car wash attendants are employed in car dealerships (new and used), service stations, collision repair businesses, vehicle rental firms, bus and truck depots, and car wash and detailing businesses. Opportunities are also available for self-employment.


Specializations

Vehicle Detailer

A vehicle detailer undertakes the tasks of a car wash attendant and also cleans engines and underbodies, treating them with rust-proofing chemicals. They also repair minor surface rust stains and make minor repairs to scratched or chipped paintwork. A vehicle detailer rejuvenates dull paintwork on older vehicles.

Car Wash Attendant

Car wash attendants wash, scrub and polish the exteriors of vehicles. They may also vacuum seats and carpets and clean door trims and hinges in the interior of vehicles.

Vehicle Detailer

A vehicle detailer undertakes the tasks of a car wash attendant and also cleans engines and underbodies, treating them with rust-proofing chemicals. They also repair minor surface rust stains and make minor repairs to scratched or chipped paintwork. A vehicle detailer rejuvenates dull paintwork on older vehicles.

  • Average age
    Average age
    36 years
  • Future Growth
    Future Growth
    Stable
  • Gender Share
    Gender Share
    12% female
  • Average full-time
    Average full-time
    41 hours
  • Weekly Pay
    Weekly Pay
    $868
  • Skill level rating
    Skill level rating
    Entry level
  • Unemployment
    Unemployment
    Higher Unemployment
  • Full-Time Share
    Full-Time Share
    61% Full-Time
  • Employment Size
    Employment Size
    15,900 workers
  • Employment Size
    Employment by state
    ACT: 1.3%
    NSW: 27.8%
    NT: 0.9%
    QLD: 24.4%
    SA: 8.3%
    TAS: 2.6%
    VIC: 23.3%
    WA: 11.4%
  • Employment Size
    Age brackets
    15-19: 8.7%
    20-24: 15.9%
    25-34: 23.2%
    35-44: 18.6%
    45-54: 18%
    55-59: 7.2%
    60-64: 5.3%
    65 and Over: 3.1%
  • Employment Size
    Education level
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 5.3%
    Bachelor degree: 5.9%
    Below Year 10: 32.1%
    Certificate III/IV: 17.8%
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 1.4%
    Year 10 and below: 32%
    Year 11: 9.1%
    Year 12: 28.6%
    Years 11 & 10: 26.5%
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