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Detailer vs automotive detailer

The differences between detailers and automotive detailers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a detailer has an average salary of $29,506, which is higher than the $28,357 average annual salary of an automotive detailer.

The top three skills for a detailer include customer vehicles, shampoo carpets and work ethic. The most important skills for an automotive detailer are work ethic, cleanliness, and customer vehicles.

Detailer vs automotive detailer overview

DetailerAutomotive Detailer
Yearly salary$29,506$28,357
Hourly rate$14.19$13.63
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs6,78937,088
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 51%
Average age3838
Years of experience--

What does a detailer do?

A detailer's general responsibility is to provide automotive cleaning services to clients' specifications. Detailers' duties also include inspection of vehicle condition, conducting primary overhaul for interior and exterior defects, and knowledge of cleaning tools and equipment. A detailer must also have excellent customer service skills. They are responsible for providing client requests, responding to inquiries, and managing complaints. Detailers also monitor inventories and request supplies and equipment to the management as needed.

What does an automotive detailer do?

An 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. Moreover, an automotive detailer also monitors the inventory of supplies and handles calls and correspondence.

Detailer vs automotive detailer salary

Detailers and automotive detailers have different pay scales, as shown below.

DetailerAutomotive Detailer
Average salary$29,506$28,357
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $36,000Between $22,000 And $35,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companySteel DynamicsMars
Best paying industryRetailRetail

Differences between detailer and automotive detailer education

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

DetailerAutomotive Detailer
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 51%
Most common majorBusinessAutomotive Technology
Most common college--

Detailer vs automotive detailer demographics

Here are the differences between detailers' and automotive detailers' demographics:

DetailerAutomotive Detailer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 85.0% Female, 15.0%Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 4.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between detailer and automotive detailer duties and responsibilities

Detailer example 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.
  • Detail small compact cars, SUVs, school buses, coach buses, and boats.
  • Develop strong work ethic and leadership skills.
  • Show more

Automotive detailer example responsibilities.

  • Cleaned/Wax automobiles and maintain the cleanliness of the showroom
  • Detail cars, trucks, RV's, and boats on a daily basis.
  • Detail cars, trucks, planes, RV's, boats, air boats, hover crafts and all-terrain vehicles.
  • Visit various stores, take inventory, and stock their shelves with Frito-Lay products.
  • Provide oversight to several Sacramento-area grocery stores to stock shelves with Frito-Lay merchandise in a neat and organize fashion.

Detailer vs automotive detailer skills

Common detailer skills
  • Customer Vehicles, 17%
  • Shampoo Carpets, 16%
  • Work Ethic, 15%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Cleanliness, 9%
  • Good Communication, 6%
Common automotive detailer skills
  • Work Ethic, 23%
  • Cleanliness, 10%
  • Customer Vehicles, 9%
  • Engine Compartment, 7%
  • Air Compressors, 5%
  • General Maintenance, 5%

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