How much does a cleaner of vehicles and equipment make?
The median cleaner of vehicles and equipment in the United States earns $35,830 per year, about $17.23 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all cleaners of vehicles and equipment earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 53-7061.
Cleaner of vehicles and equipment salary range
Pay for cleaners of vehicles and equipment spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $27,380 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $47,610. The average (mean) wage of $36,980 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,380 | $13.17 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $30,420 | $14.62 | |
| Median (50th) | $35,830 | $17.23 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $41,040 | $19.73 | |
| 90th percentile | $47,610 | $22.89 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for cleaners of vehicles and equipment (SOC 53-7061), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Cleaner of vehicles and equipment salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment earn the most in District of Columbia at $42,710 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $27,600. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $42,710 | 350 |
| Alaska | $40,210 | 620 |
| Washington | $40,070 | 8,270 |
| Colorado | $39,610 | 6,750 |
| Vermont | $39,530 | 620 |
| New York | $39,390 | 20,390 |
| Massachusetts | $38,630 | 5,100 |
| Oregon | $38,070 | 5,550 |
| California | $37,920 | 46,030 |
| Minnesota | $37,580 | 4,460 |
| Hawaii | $37,560 | 1,180 |
| Delaware | $37,440 | 1,280 |
| Maine | $37,440 | 1,150 |
| New Hampshire | $37,420 | 1,030 |
| Kansas | $37,370 | 6,410 |
| Rhode Island | $37,340 | 780 |
| North Dakota | $37,290 | 1,330 |
| Nebraska | $37,160 | 4,570 |
| New Jersey | $37,090 | 9,930 |
| Montana | $36,510 | 1,490 |
| Maryland | $36,390 | 6,010 |
| Illinois | $35,930 | 16,350 |
| Iowa | $35,920 | 4,190 |
| Connecticut | $35,870 | 3,480 |
| Idaho | $35,640 | 2,840 |
| Arizona | $35,410 | 6,260 |
| Wisconsin | $35,280 | 7,040 |
| Ohio | $35,230 | 13,750 |
| South Dakota | $35,050 | 1,510 |
| Arkansas | $34,970 | 5,140 |
| Tennessee | $34,950 | 8,420 |
| Indiana | $34,940 | 7,520 |
| Utah | $34,900 | 4,580 |
| Missouri | $34,670 | 9,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,650 | 11,710 |
| Kentucky | $34,470 | 5,580 |
| Virginia | $34,450 | 8,860 |
| Nevada | $34,230 | 3,790 |
| South Carolina | $34,230 | 5,720 |
| Michigan | $33,890 | 10,320 |
| Wyoming | $33,890 | 720 |
| North Carolina | $33,470 | 13,820 |
| Florida | $33,380 | 24,920 |
| Oklahoma | $30,880 | 5,080 |
| Georgia | $30,610 | 12,180 |
| New Mexico | $30,310 | 1,820 |
| Texas | $29,450 | 37,750 |
| West Virginia | $29,390 | 1,260 |
| Alabama | $29,360 | 6,440 |
| Mississippi | $28,640 | 2,790 |
| Louisiana | $27,600 | 4,140 |
State median wages for cleaners of vehicles and equipment (SOC 53-7061), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for cleaners of vehicles and equipment
The BLS projects employment of cleaners of vehicles and equipment to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 419,500 jobs in 2025 moving toward 435,800 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 51,500 openings a year for cleaners of vehicles and equipment. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a cleaner of vehicles and equipment
The typical entry-level education for cleaners of vehicles and equipment is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a cleaner of vehicles and equipment earns
Route type, employer, endorsements, and hours behind the wheel drive pay. Long-haul, specialized freight, and union employers tend to sit at the top of the range, while local and entry-level roles start lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $42,710) and the lowest (Louisiana, $27,600) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 380,430 people work as cleaners of vehicles and equipment in the United States. At $35,830 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Cleaner of vehicles and equipment salary FAQ
How much does a cleaner of vehicles and equipment make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a cleaner of vehicles and equipment is $17.23. The middle half of cleaners of vehicles and equipment earn between $14.62 and $19.73 per hour.
What is the highest cleaner of vehicles and equipment salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of cleaners of vehicles and equipment earn more than $47,610 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a cleaner of vehicles and equipment make a year?
The median annual salary for a cleaner of vehicles and equipment is $35,830. The average (mean) wage of $36,980 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a cleaner of vehicles and equipment a well paid job?
At $35,830 a year, a cleaner of vehicles and equipment earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 380,430 people work as cleaners of vehicles and equipment in the United States.
Which state pays cleaners of vehicles and equipment the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for cleaners of vehicles and equipment at $42,710 a year. Alaska ($40,210) and Washington ($40,070) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a cleaner of vehicles and equipment a good career?
Employment of cleaners of vehicles and equipment is projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 51,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a cleaner of vehicles and equipment?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for cleaners of vehicles and equipment as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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