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Skilled Trades

Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.

Median salary (BLS)

$35,830

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$27k – $48k

Job outlook

+4% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

    Entry / Junior

    $27,380

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

    Established

    $35,830

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

    Senior

    $41,720

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.