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Car detailer vs auto detailer

The differences between car detailers and auto detailers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a car detailer has an average salary of $29,125, which is higher than the $28,746 average annual salary of an auto detailer.

The top three skills for a car detailer include shampoo carpets, clean windows and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for an auto detailer are shampoo carpets, general maintenance, and service tools.

Car detailer vs auto detailer overview

Car DetailerAuto Detailer
Yearly salary$29,125$28,746
Hourly rate$14.00$13.82
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs11,30211,018
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 62%High School Diploma, 57%
Average age3838
Years of experience--

What does a car detailer do?

A car detailer is responsible for providing auto cleaning services, following clients' specifications within internal guidelines. Car detailers organize the interior and exterior features of the vehicles, performing cleaning and disinfecting operations with utmost safety by adhering to the organization's procedures. They also inspect the engine's condition, recommending possible solutions to the clients to improve the vehicle's optimization and high performance. A car detailer must have excellent organizational and communication skills, especially on adhering to clients' special requests to ensure customer satisfaction.

What does an auto detailer do?

An auto or car detailer is an employee who provides internal and external cleaning services for vehicles according to the clients' needs. Auto detailers provide the necessary cleaning services that can include steaming the interiors, vacuuming the carpets, and applying waxes and polishes. They are required to perform inspections of vehicles and provide accurate records of the vehicle's condition. By clients' requests, auto detailers must also move and park the clients' vehicles or deliver them to a specific location.

Car detailer vs auto detailer salary

Car detailers and auto detailers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Car DetailerAuto Detailer
Average salary$29,125$28,746
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $36,000Between $23,000 And $35,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CABellevue, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyCarMaxChemung Arc
Best paying industryRetailRetail

Differences between car detailer and auto detailer education

There are a few differences between a car detailer and an auto detailer in terms of educational background:

Car DetailerAuto Detailer
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 62%High School Diploma, 57%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Car detailer vs auto detailer demographics

Here are the differences between car detailers' and auto detailers' demographics:

Car DetailerAuto Detailer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 86.4% Female, 13.6%Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 4.3% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 4.5% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between car detailer and auto detailer duties and responsibilities

Car detailer example responsibilities.

  • Wear full face respirators with supply air and Tyvek suits.
  • Used hand and power tools such as upholstery steamers and high-speed buffers.
  • Detail rvs, shop upkeep, move rvs around lot or to convention centers for sale shows
  • Transport materials, equipment, or supplies to or from work areas, using carts or hoists.
  • Provide professional automobile detailing services with a variety of cleaning techniques and products to ensure the desired level of superior cleanliness.
  • Transport materials, equipment, or supplies to and from work areas, using carts or hoists.
  • Show more

Auto detailer example responsibilities.

  • Provide professional automobile detailing services with a variety of cleaning techniques and products to ensure the desired level of superior cleanliness.
  • Maintain the dealership grounds by mowing, weed eating and maintaining mowing equipment.

Car detailer vs auto detailer skills

Common car detailer skills
  • Shampoo Carpets, 35%
  • Clean Windows, 20%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 14%
  • Vehicle Exterior, 8%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Engine Compartment, 2%
Common auto detailer skills
  • Shampoo Carpets, 37%
  • General Maintenance, 19%
  • Service Tools, 7%
  • Customer Vehicles, 6%
  • Engine Compartment, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%

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