How to hire a detail technician

How to hire a detail technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step detail technician hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a detail technician, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a detail technician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a detail technician that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of detail technicians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Detail Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Detail Technician	Hand 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.	$10-16
   Car Washer	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... Show more	$10-16
   Aircraft Cleaner	An Aircraft Cleaner specializes in maintaining the cleanliness of an aircraft's interior and exterior according to protocols and standards. Their responsibilities include cleaning cabins and compartments, disinfecting restrooms, utilizing tools and equipment, and replenishing stocks such as soap and tissue... Show more	$11-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Vehicles
   • Customer Service
   • Dexterity
   • Exterior Surfaces
   • Engine Compartment
   • Rinse
   • Loose Dirt
   • Customer Delivery
   • Body Shop
   • Foreign Materials
   • Auto Body
   • Leather Surfaces
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Resistant Chemicals

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Detail interior and exterior of travel trailers and RV's.
   • Dust cleaned wash waxed vacuum shampoo entire campers RV units.
   • Provide professional automobile detailing services with a variety of cleaning techniques and products to ensure the desired level of superior cleanliness.
   • Serve as liaison between DriveTime and external repair and supply vendors.
   • Investigate transmission errors for DriveTime lot vehicles.

   More detail technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your detail technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A detail technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, detail technicians' average salary in mississippi is 46% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level detail technicians earn 37% less than senior-level detail technicians.
   • Certifications. A detail technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a detail technician's salary.

   Average detail technician salary

   $13.56hourly

   $28,201 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level detail technician salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average detail technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$39,866	$19
   2	Colorado	$30,631	$15
   3	North Dakota	$29,645	$14
   4	Wisconsin	$28,231	$14
   5	Indiana	$27,321	$13
   6	Ohio	$26,299	$13
   7	Arizona	$25,769	$12
   8	North Carolina	$25,339	$12
   9	Texas	$24,995	$12
   10	Michigan	$23,790	$11
   11	Tennessee	$22,446	$11

   Average detail technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Ryder System	$31,177	$14.99
   2	R.E. Garrison Trucking	$30,874	$14.84
   3	Bergstrom Climate Control System	$30,006	$14.43
   4	Price Le Blanc Toyota Lexus	$29,731	$14.29	1
   5	Penske Automotive Group	$29,307	$14.09
   6	Schomp Automotive Group	$28,987	$13.94
   7	Gibbons P.C.	$28,975	$13.93
   8	Grease Monkey International	$28,954	$13.92	6
   9	Proformance Auto	$28,927	$13.91	1
   10	Conklin Cars	$28,803	$13.85	2
   11	Fowler Dodge	$28,741	$13.82	4
   12	Cox Automotive	$28,682	$13.79
   13	Walser Automotive Group	$28,543	$13.72
   14	Dent Wizard	$28,521	$13.71	14
   15	Hubler Chevrolet	$28,290	$13.60	1
   16	AutoNation	$28,285	$13.60	7
   17	Phil	$28,214	$13.56
   18	The Summit	$28,213	$13.56	5
   19	Toyota of Hollywood	$28,213	$13.56	3
   20	Get Spiffy	$28,213	$13.56

4. Writing a detail technician job description

   A good detail technician job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a detail technician job description:

   Detail technician job description example

   Detail Technician - Full Time
   Bergstrom GM of Neenah
   DRIVE YOUR CAREER FORWARD AT BERGSTROM AUTOMOTIVE AND APPLY TODAY. WHAT YOU'LL DO Cleans new and used car deliveries, rentals, service vehicles, body shop vehicles, and spot delivery before the vehicle leaves the dealership or is shown to a guest. Responsible for washing the outside of the vehicle that includes but not limited to; washing and drying the vehicle, buffing, waxing, and cleaning windows. Vacuums interior of vehicle to remove loose dirt and debris and cleans upholstery, rugs, and other surfaces, using appropriate cleaning agents, applicators, and cleaning devices. Acts as back up for shuttling guests to and from service appointments or picking up vehicle parts as needed.
   
   Schedule: Monday-Friday 900a-530p; rotating Saturday 800a-500p with a weekday off.
   Pay starting at $12.50-16.50/hour based on experience. Earn an extra $2.00 per hour worked every Saturday!
   
   WHO'S RIGHT FOR THE JOB? Valid Driver's License with a clean driving record. Detail, quality and service orientated. Eagerness to learn Upbeat and positive personality Active Listening Skills Excellent Guest/Customer Service Strong Communication Skills Relationship Building Skills
   
   OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU Competitive compensation! Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance (for FT team members) Vacation Time (for FT team members) Discounts on vehicles, service, and parts 401(k) with company match Paid Vacation and Holidays (for FT team members) Wellness Program Free Team Member Clinic Free Health Coach Employee Assistance Program Employee Referral Program Opportunities for growth!
   
   WHAT MAKES BERGSTROM DIFFERENT: Wisconsin's largest automotive group Established in 1982 in Neenah WI 1,700+ team members and growing 32 dealerships and 36 brands (and growing!) Ranked as one of the best dealerships to work for by Automotive News Glassdoor voted Bergstrom as one of the best companies to work for in 2020 and 2021 Recognized by the Better Business Bureau and Time Magazine We are committed to giving back to our communities by supporting organizations like Make-a-Wish, United Way, and Drive for a Cure Drive your career forward today! APPLY NOW! Bergstrom Automotive is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find detail technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any detail technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level detail technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your detail technician job on Zippia to find and recruit detail technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with detail technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 detail technician

   Once you've found the detail technician 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new detail technician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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.)

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