Vehicle cleaner
Also known as: automotive valeter, van cleaner, motor vehicle valeter, vehicle body cleaner, automotive cleaner, truck cleaner
About this occupation
Vehicle cleaners clean and polish surfaces of external parts and interiors of vehicles.
Essential skills and knowledge
- treat vehicle fabrics
- car cleaning procedures
- follow control of substances hazardous to health procedures
- follow given instructions
- clean equipment
- clean vehicle engine
- wash vehicles
- manage stocked company material
- car controls
- types of vehicles
- clean vehicle interiors
- clean vehicle exterior
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment (O*NET 53-7061.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- 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.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Time Management, Speaking
US median pay: US$35,830 a year (2025), 380,430 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.3)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Home Appliance Repairers
- Dishwashers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.