What Does an Automotive Service Attendant Do?
Every returned rental car has to be fueled, vacuumed and washed before the next customer picks it up, and fleet managers expect the same of their pool vehicles. That work belongs to automotive service attendants, who also top up fluids, check tire pressure and park cars at gas stations, quick-lube shops, dealerships, rental lots and fleet garages.
Also known as: Garage Attendant
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Attendant, Dock Attendant, Dock Hand, Fuel Attendant, Fuel Dock Attendant, Gas Attendant, Gas Pumper, Marine Fuel Dock Attendant.
Automotive Service Attendant Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of an automotive service attendant include:
- Fuel vehicles and check oil, coolant, washer fluid and tire pressure on request.
- Run vehicles through the wash bay and vacuum interiors between rentals or fleet assignments.
- Change oil and filters and lubricate chassis parts under a technician's guidance.
- Park, move and stage vehicles in the garage or lot, keeping keys logged and secure.
- Inspect wipers, lights, belts and tires; report problems to the service desk.
- Record fuel, mileage and service details for each fleet vehicle in the tracking system.
- Jump-start dead batteries and change flat tires for stranded fleet or rental vehicles.
- Collect payments, sell basic supplies and answer customer questions at the counter.
- Keep bays, pumps and lots clean, clearing spills and restocking supplies.
- Check in returned rental or pool cars, noting damage, fuel level and mileage.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as an automotive service attendant, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Valid driver's license and clean driving record
- Basic knowledge of engine fluids, tires and batteries
- Safe use of lifts, jacks and air tools
- Cash handling and point-of-sale systems
- Courtesy with customers in a hurry
- Stamina for standing, bending and outdoor work
- Accurate logging of mileage and fuel
- Willingness to learn from technicians
Education and Training
A valid driver's license comes before anything else, since attendants move cars all day. No diploma is required, and a few weeks of training on the job covers fueling, fluid checks and basic lube work. Many start with part-time car washing or pump work in high school, and some later move up to lube technician or service advisor.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $31,300 - $39,320 per year, with a median of $35,670.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants.
According to BLS, employment of automotive and watercraft service attendants is projected to grow about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 12,900 openings a year. Turnover keeps jobs open. Work in this field often is tied to traffic and fleet size, but attendants will be needed as long as drivers need fuel, fluids and a quick safety check.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Automotive and watercraft service attendants.
Automotive Service Attendant Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $28,630 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $31,300 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $35,670 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $39,320 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $46,060 |
Highest-Paying States for Automotive Service Attendants
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Hawaii ($43,630), California ($41,770), District of Columbia ($41,750), Rhode Island ($41,690), Connecticut ($41,600). Pay is lowest in Alabama ($29,180), Louisiana ($29,150), West Virginia ($28,260).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,180 |
| Alaska | $41,590 |
| Arizona | $35,840 |
| Arkansas | $34,750 |
| California | $41,770 |
| Colorado | $38,370 |
| Connecticut | $41,600 |
| Delaware | $36,530 |
| District of Columbia | $41,750 |
| Florida | $34,860 |
| Georgia | $30,950 |
| Hawaii | $43,630 |
| Idaho | $35,560 |
| Illinois | $36,010 |
| Indiana | $35,700 |
| Iowa | $30,810 |
| Kansas | $35,440 |
| Kentucky | $31,410 |
| Louisiana | $29,150 |
| Maine | $32,310 |
| Maryland | $37,580 |
| Massachusetts | $35,680 |
| Michigan | $31,280 |
| Minnesota | $37,470 |
| Mississippi | $30,810 |
| Missouri | $38,130 |
| Montana | $38,700 |
| Nebraska | $34,940 |
| Nevada | $37,550 |
| New Hampshire | $40,030 |
| New Jersey | $35,350 |
| New Mexico | $30,880 |
| New York | $37,180 |
| North Carolina | $33,680 |
| North Dakota | $36,740 |
| Ohio | $34,990 |
| Oklahoma | $31,760 |
| Oregon | $34,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,550 |
| Rhode Island | $41,690 |
| South Carolina | $36,000 |
| South Dakota | $36,050 |
| Tennessee | $31,970 |
| Texas | $33,670 |
| Utah | $37,000 |
| Vermont | $38,700 |
| Virginia | $30,350 |
| Washington | $39,440 |
| West Virginia | $28,260 |
| Wisconsin | $36,550 |
| Wyoming | $36,640 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as automotive and watercraft service attendants about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 97% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 95% spend more than half the workday on their feet
- 86% are on the phone every day
- 80% work around hazardous equipment every day
- 77% work outdoors in all kinds of weather every day
- 77% wear safety gear such as gloves, safety glasses or a hard hat every day
- 65% deal with loud or distracting noise every day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 59% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 23% |
| Less than high school | 16% |
Tools and Software Automotive Service Attendants Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Speaking, Service Orientation, Operation and Control, Time Management, Critical Thinking.
Knowledge areas used most: Customer and Personal Service, Mechanical, Sales and Marketing, Administration and Management, Mathematics.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 2 of 5, which means some preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for an Automotive Service Attendant Job
- Job application letter sample
- How to write the skills section of a resume
- How to describe your work experience
- Job interview tips
- Interview thank-you note
The Job Explorer never charges candidates any money. If someone asks you to pay to apply for a automotive service attendant job or to get hired, treat it as a warning sign.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 53-6031.00 (Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 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. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.