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Detailer vs car cleaner

The differences between detailers and car cleaners 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 $29,423 average annual salary of a car cleaner.

The top three skills for a detailer include customer vehicles, shampoo carpets and work ethic. The most important skills for a car cleaner are clean windows, vehicle damage, and customer service.

Detailer vs car cleaner overview

DetailerCar Cleaner
Yearly salary$29,506$29,423
Hourly rate$14.19$14.15
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs6,78941,909
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 59%
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 a car cleaner do?

Car Cleaners are Responsible for cleaning and washing vehicles for their exterior and interior. Their duties include greeting customers, soap application, cleaning dirt and spraying rims and tires, spray windows using cleaning agent, wax application, rinsing away soap, car debris removal, vacuuming to suck debris and dirt, applying upholstery cleaner for stains and dirt removal, rear window cleaning, as well as cleaning console and dash using a soft cloth. Other duties include processing payments, managing the cash register, ensuring vehicle valuables remain undisturbed, delivering receipt, directing the client to the car after service, and handling customer complaints.

Detailer vs car cleaner salary

Detailers and car cleaners have different pay scales, as shown below.

DetailerCar Cleaner
Average salary$29,506$29,423
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $36,000Between $23,000 And $36,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASeaTac, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companySteel DynamicsDXC Technology
Best paying industryRetailManufacturing

Differences between detailer and car cleaner education

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

DetailerCar Cleaner
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 53%High School Diploma, 59%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Detailer vs car cleaner demographics

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

DetailerCar Cleaner
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 85.0% Female, 15.0%Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4%
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, 13.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between detailer and car cleaner 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

Car cleaner example responsibilities.

  • Inspect transit equipment and vehicles for cleanliness and damages to insure compliance with standards and transit regulations.
  • Use equipment such as sanders, grinders, automate immersion unit, high pressure spraying units, and vapor units.
  • Work in the sanitizing section with the duties of maintaining, cleaning, and prepping full face respirators for re-issue.
  • Couple air and electrical connections between locomotives.
  • Clean multiple commercial building using industrialize buffers, scrubbers and/or vacuum equipment.
  • Disassemble finishing booths and trolleys.
  • Show more

Detailer vs car cleaner skills

Common detailer skills
  • Customer Vehicles, 17%
  • Shampoo Carpets, 16%
  • Work Ethic, 15%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Cleanliness, 9%
  • Good Communication, 6%
Common car cleaner skills
  • Clean Windows, 41%
  • Vehicle Damage, 28%
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Clean Vehicle, 11%
  • Vehicle Exterior, 2%
  • Cleanliness, 1%

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