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Car washer vs service porter

The differences between car washers and service porters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a car washer has an average salary of $28,701, which is higher than the $28,469 average annual salary of a service porter.

The top three skills for a car washer include clean vehicle, customer satisfaction and cleanliness. The most important skills for a service porter are customer vehicles, cleanliness, and work ethic.

Car washer vs service porter overview

Car WasherService Porter
Yearly salary$28,701$28,469
Hourly rate$13.80$13.69
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs41,70210,027
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 64%High School Diploma, 48%
Average age3838
Years of experience--

What does a car washer do?

A car washer is responsible for cleaning and polishing cars, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction. Their tasks typically include vacuuming the interior parts such as seats and floors, discarding the trash, cleaning the windows and windshield from the inside and outside, applying soap solution to the car's exterior, scraping off dirt, and applying wax. They may also answer customer inquiries, provide cost estimates, and assist them as needed. Moreover, a car washer typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.

What does a service porter do?

Typically 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. There are also instances where they perform clerical support tasks such as answering calls and correspondence, preparing and processing documents, and monitoring the inventory. Moreover, a service porter may also assist potential buyers and keep them company during test drives.

Car washer vs service porter salary

Car washers and service porters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Car WasherService Porter
Average salary$28,701$28,469
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $35,000Between $22,000 And $35,000
Highest paying CitySan Jose, CAKirkland, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyWestsideClean Harbors
Best paying industryTransportationReal Estate

Differences between car washer and service porter education

There are a few differences between a car washer and a service porter in terms of educational background:

Car WasherService Porter
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 64%High School Diploma, 48%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Car washer vs service porter demographics

Here are the differences between car washers' and service porters' demographics:

Car WasherService Porter
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 86.5% Female, 13.5%Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.8% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 4.4% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 4.9% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between car washer and service porter duties and responsibilities

Car washer example responsibilities.

  • Manage to sweep and mop floor; clean bathroom and empty trash and dryer lint traps.
  • Change car oil and filters, wash and take care of the overall cleanliness of the client's cars.
  • Maintain the cleanliness of the showroom floor, windows, offices, bathrooms, and other parts of the facilities.
  • Operate POS register, perform opening/closing operations
  • Clean and pre-soak machines before use.

Service porter example responsibilities.

  • Manage stock of the vehicles; document vehicle locations and individual VIN numbers.
  • Ensure customer satisfaction through efficient maintenance of service areas and improve cleanliness.
  • Wash and detail RV's as well as transport to sublet repair shops.
  • Maintain the proper inventory records of all vehicles and ensure that they match the correct RV.
  • Maintain cleanliness around service department and showroom.
  • Prepare cleaning solutions as necessary and follow safety procedures as prescribed by OSHA.
  • Show more

Car washer vs service porter skills

Common car washer skills
  • Clean Vehicle, 36%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 14%
  • Cleanliness, 13%
  • Vehicle Exterior, 6%
  • Customer Vehicles, 5%
  • Rental Cars, 4%
Common service porter skills
  • Customer Vehicles, 19%
  • Cleanliness, 12%
  • Work Ethic, 12%
  • Service Drive, 10%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • General Cleanup, 5%

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