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How to hire a car cleaner

Car cleaner hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring car cleaners in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a car cleaner is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new car cleaner to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a car cleaner, step by step

To hire a car cleaner, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a car cleaner:

Here's a step-by-step car cleaner hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a car cleaner job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new car cleaner
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a car cleaner do?

Car Cleaners are Responsible for cleaning and washing vehicles for their exterior and interior. Their duties include greeting customers, soap application, cleaning dirt and spraying rims and tires, spray windows using cleaning agent, wax application, rinsing away soap, car debris removal, vacuuming to suck debris and dirt, applying upholstery cleaner for stains and dirt removal, rear window cleaning, as well as cleaning console and dash using a soft cloth. Other duties include processing payments, managing the cash register, ensuring vehicle valuables remain undisturbed, delivering receipt, directing the client to the car after service, and handling customer complaints.

Learn more about the specifics of what a car cleaner does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the car cleaner you need to hire. Certain car cleaner roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect car cleaner also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    Here's a comparison of car cleaner salaries for various roles:

    Type of Car CleanerDescriptionHourly rate
    Car CleanerHand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.$11-17
    Service PorterTypically working in car dealerships, a service porter is in charge of performing a variety of tasks to maintain smooth operations. They maintain vehicles in good condition by conducting regular maintenance checks and repairs, refilling gas tanks, inspecting tires and batteries, and cleaning the interior and exterior of cars... Show more$10-16
    Automotive DetailerAn automotive detailer typically works at car shops and dealerships, where they primarily focus on the upkeep of a car's interior and exterior. Their responsibilities revolve around understanding the clients' needs and preferences, cleaning the vehicles according to protocols and client requests, scraping off dirt, coordinating with paint technicians and mechanics, operating devices and machinery such as vacuums and buffers, and adhering to timelines and budgets... Show more$10-16
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Clean Windows
    • Vehicle Damage
    • Customer Service
    • Clean Vehicle
    • Vehicle Exterior
    • Cleanliness
    • Rental Cars
    • Exterior Body
    • Train Cars
    • Respirators
    • Body Fluids
    • Notify Supervisors
    • Squeegees
    • Hoists
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Inspect transit equipment and vehicles for cleanliness and damages to insure compliance with standards and transit regulations.
    • Use equipment such as sanders, grinders, automate immersion unit, high pressure spraying units, and vapor units.
    • Work in the sanitizing section with the duties of maintaining, cleaning, and prepping full face respirators for re-issue.
    • Couple air and electrical connections between locomotives.
    • Clean multiple commercial building using industrialize buffers, scrubbers and/or vacuum equipment.
    • Disassemble finishing booths and trolleys.
    More car cleaner duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your car cleaner job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A car cleaner can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, car cleaners' average salary in louisiana is 48% less than in washington.
    • Seniority. Entry-level car cleaners 36% less than senior-level car cleaners.
    • Certifications. A car cleaner with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a car cleaner's salary.

    Average car cleaner salary

    $14.15hourly

    $29,423 yearly

    Entry-level car cleaner salary
    $23,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025

    Average car cleaner salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$38,439$18
    2Oregon$35,435$17
    3New York$33,737$16
    4California$33,373$16
    5Massachusetts$32,537$16
    6Alaska$32,323$16
    7Colorado$32,283$16
    8New Hampshire$31,488$15
    9Minnesota$30,898$15
    10Maine$30,654$15
    11New Jersey$30,564$15
    12Arizona$30,226$15
    13Utah$30,055$14
    14Hawaii$29,938$14
    15Illinois$29,861$14
    16Wisconsin$29,776$14
    17Pennsylvania$29,419$14
    18Connecticut$28,876$14
    19Indiana$28,130$14
    20Ohio$27,805$13

    Average car cleaner salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1DXC Technology$29,881$14.37
    2ABM Industries$29,255$14.062,260
    3Rescar Industries Inc$29,253$14.06
    4Quala$29,242$14.064
    5The Hertz Corporation$29,152$14.02281
    6National Holdings$29,039$13.96
    7Kelly Services$28,720$13.814
    8Automation Personnel Services$28,568$13.734
    9Enterprise Holdings$27,560$13.2510
    10Avis Budget Group$27,435$13.19124
    11Boch Automotive$25,764$12.39
  4. Writing a car cleaner job description

    A car cleaner job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a car cleaner job description:

    Car cleaner job description example

    Tom Wood is proud to be family-owned and locally operated for over 50 years. Since our start in 1967, Tom Wood, Inc. has grown to eighteen franchises with locations throughout the Midwest and New Zealand. Our franchises include thirteen automotive brands, Tom Wood Collision, Sixt Rental Car, Big O Tires, Tom Wood Aviation, Tom Wood Powersports, Tom Wood Outdoor Equipment, Integrity Insurance, Quality Leasing, and Premier Acceptance. The Tom Wood Group is a collection of vibrant, growing businesses and we remain passionately committed to our 1,100+ team members, our loyal guests, and the communities that we serve.

    Benefits

    As a member of the Tom Wood Group team, you’ll not only have a solid career foundation, but also receive the benefits associated with a large corporation including Paid Time Off, Paid Vacation and Holidays, Health, Vision, Dental, Life, and Short Term Disability insurance, and company-matching 401(k). We also provide Paid Company Training, have an Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, and great opportunities for future advancement.

    Responsibilities:

    • Clean vehicle exterior and interior by hand, brush, or by operating washing equipment
    • Sanitize and Disinfect Vehicles per CDC Guidelines
    • Check fuel level, warning lights, and tire pressure. Fill all necessary fluids, refuel vehicle
    • Assist with vehicle movements and deliveries
    • Follow all company safety policies and procedures

    QUALIFICATIONS :

    • Team-oriented, flexible, and willing to learn
    • Valid Driver's License with a clean driving record


    Job Type: Full-time

    Pay: $13.50 - $16.00 per hour


    Offers of employment are contingent upon passing a background screening including a criminal background check, a review of motor vehicle records, verification of social security number, and passing a drug test at a certified testing facility. We are an equal opportunity employer - Drug and Tobacco-Free Campus





  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right car cleaner for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your car cleaner job on Zippia to find and recruit car cleaner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit car cleaners, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new car cleaner

    Once you've found the car cleaner candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new car cleaner first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a car cleaner?

Recruiting car cleaners involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

The median annual salary for car cleaners is $29,423 in the US. However, the cost of car cleaner hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a car cleaner for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $11 and $17 an hour.

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