How long does it take to become a Detailer?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a detailer. That is the time it takes to learn specific detailer skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

How To Become A Detailer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a detailer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A detailer is an individual who specializes in cleaning and restoring the appearance of vehicles, typically cars. They use a variety of tools and techniques to meticulously clean both the exterior and interior of the vehicle, removing dirt, grime, and other imperfections to bring out the shine and luster of the car's paint and finish.The goal of a detailer is to make a vehicle look its best while also protecting it from further wear and tear.

ScoreDetailerUS Average

Salary

2.3

Avg. Salary $29,506

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.87%

Asian 4.39%

Black or African American 12.59%

Hispanic or Latino 15.05%

Unknown 4.92%

White 62.19%

Gender

female 15.04%

male 84.96%

Age - 36

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 36

Stress level

6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a detailer?

Pros

Opportunity to work with cars and learn more about them
Potential for flexible scheduling
Possibility of earning tips from satisfied customers
Ability to improve your detailing skills over time
Potential for learning additional skills, such as customer service or marketing

Cons

May require working outside in extreme temperatures
Can be physically demanding work
May involve using harsh chemicals that can be harmful if not used properly
Can be difficult to maintain a consistent income if business is slow
May involve dealing with difficult customers or unhappy clients

Key steps to become a detailer

Explore detailer education requirements

Most common detailer degrees

High School Diploma

53.1 %

Associate

16.2 %

Diploma

12.9 %

Start to develop specific detailer skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Vehicles	17.03%
Shampoo Carpets	15.55%
Work Ethic	15.33%
Customer Service	12.86%
Cleanliness	8.72%

Complete relevant detailer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New detailers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a detailer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real detailer resumes.

Research detailer duties and responsibilities

Operate miscellaneous tools, spray guns, industrial vacuums and cleaners.
Dimension and annotate HVAC, plumbing, hydronic, and medical gas drawings.
Receive training in fiberglass boat repair -Responsible for maintaining showroom appearance and detailing customer boats
General daily responsibilities include cleaning, detailing and performing general maintenance on client boats locate at marinas.

Prepare your detailer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your detailer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a detailer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable detailer resume templates

Build a professional detailer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your detailer resume.