Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants: Career Profile
Service automobiles, buses, trucks, boats, and other automotive or marine vehicles with fuel, lubricants, and accessories. Collect payment for services and supplies. May lubricate vehicle, change motor oil, refill antifreeze, or replace lights or other accessories, such as windshield wiper blades or fan belts. May repair or replace tires.
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The Daily Work of Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of automotive and watercraft service attendants cover:
- Collect cash payments from customers, and make change or charge purchases to customers' credit cards, providing customers with receipts.
- Check tire pressure and levels of fuel, motor oil, transmission, radiator, battery, or other fluids, adding air or fluids as required.
- Perform minor repairs, such as adjusting brakes, replacing spark plugs, or changing engine oil or filters.
- Clean parking areas, offices, restrooms, or equipment, and remove trash.
- Order stock, and price and shelve incoming goods.
- Sell and install accessories, such as batteries, windshield wiper blades, fan belts, bulbs, or headlamps.
- Grease and lubricate vehicles or specified units, such as springs, universal joints, or steering knuckles, using grease guns or spray lubricants.
- Rotate, test, and repair or replace tires.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective automotive and watercraft service attendants draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Attendant
- Auto Garage Attendant
- Auto Self Service Station Attendant
- Auto Service Station Attendant
- Auto Servicer
- Automobile Self-Serve Service Station Attendant
- Automobile Service Station Attendant
- Automobile Technician
Job Outlook
There are roughly 457,867 automotive and watercraft service attendants working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +1.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $54,064 |
| Hourly median | $25.99 |
| 10th percentile | $35,376 |
| 25th percentile | $44,720 |
| 75th percentile | $63,408 |
| 90th percentile | $72,752 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $42,680 |
| Rhode Island | $41,600 |
| California | $39,580 |
| Missouri | $39,110 |
| Washington | $39,020 |
| Colorado | $38,420 |
| Connecticut | $38,380 |
| New Hampshire | $38,120 |
| Vermont | $37,960 |
| Alaska | $37,920 |
| Montana | $37,910 |
| New York | $37,830 |
| Minnesota | $37,330 |
| North Dakota | $37,070 |
| Idaho | $36,990 |
| Massachusetts | $36,560 |
| Wisconsin | $36,210 |
| Nevada | $36,080 |
| Illinois | $35,900 |
| Maryland | $35,680 |
| Wyoming | $35,510 |
| District of Columbia | $35,430 |
| Delaware | $35,250 |
| Ohio | $35,090 |
| South Dakota | $35,070 |
| Arizona | $34,740 |
| Kansas | $34,670 |
| Oregon | $34,660 |
| Nebraska | $34,560 |
| Maine | $34,520 |
| New Jersey | $34,390 |
| Utah | $34,350 |
| Florida | $33,600 |
| Indiana | $32,920 |
| North Carolina | $31,950 |
| Arkansas | $31,540 |
| Oklahoma | $31,200 |
| Michigan | $31,170 |
| Virginia | $31,070 |
| Texas | $30,770 |
| Kentucky | $30,650 |
| Tennessee | $30,590 |
| South Carolina | $30,330 |
| Iowa | $30,060 |
| New Mexico | $29,920 |
| Georgia | $29,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,830 |
| Mississippi | $28,720 |
| Louisiana | $28,700 |
| Alabama | $28,500 |
| West Virginia | $26,300 |
| Virgin Islands | $24,040 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,270 |
Where Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants Earn the Most
Pay for automotive and watercraft service attendants differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $37,894 | 19.4% | 2.17 |
| Rocky Mountains | $37,050 | 6.1% | 1.67 |
| New England | $37,012 | 3.6% | 0.82 |
| Plains States | $35,606 | 4.8% | 1.11 |
| Middle Atlantic | $34,742 | 15.8% | 2.42 |
| Great Lakes | $34,242 | 14.2% | 1.06 |
| Southeast | $31,014 | 23.8% | 1.05 |
| Southwest | $30,983 | 12.3% | 1.04 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $52,020 | 180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $45,370 | 480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $44,210 | 1,020 |
| New Haven, CT | CT | $42,930 | 90 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $42,730 | 1,260 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | CT | $42,620 | 50 |
| Sandusky, OH | OH | $41,510 | 130 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | AK | $41,150 | 40 |
Top Industries Employing Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
The bulk of automotive and watercraft service attendants are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 49,550 | $34,980 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 39,810 | $34,450 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2,080 | $36,830 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 1,760 | $31,740 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 1,280 | $40,080 |
| Wholesale Trade | 940 | $34,500 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 920 | $36,770 |
| Construction | 170 | $53,810 |
Below are examples of industries where automotive and watercraft service attendants work:
Software Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants Use
- Internet browser software: Apple Safari (hot technology)
- Internet browser software: Microsoft Edge (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Internet browser software: Mozilla Firefox (hot technology)
- Internet browser software: Web browser software (in demand)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for automotive and watercraft service attendants reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Time Pressure
Getting Started in This Career
Most automotive and watercraft service attendants positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas (Supplemental)
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (Supplemental)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Supplemental)
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (Primary-Short)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (Supplemental)
- Rail Car Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians (Supplemental)
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-6031.00 (Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants).