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The differences between detailers and car washers 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 $28,701 average annual salary of a car washer.
The top three skills for a detailer include customer vehicles, shampoo carpets and work ethic. The most important skills for a car washer are clean vehicle, customer satisfaction, and cleanliness.
| Detailer | Car Washer | |
| Yearly salary | $29,506 | $28,701 |
| Hourly rate | $14.19 | $13.80 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 6,789 | 41,702 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 3 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 64% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
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.
Detailers and car washers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Detailer | Car Washer | |
| Average salary | $29,506 | $28,701 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $36,000 | Between $22,000 And $35,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Steel Dynamics | Westside |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a detailer and a car washer in terms of educational background:
| Detailer | Car Washer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between detailers' and car washers' demographics:
| Detailer | Car Washer | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.0% Female, 15.0% | Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 13.8% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 4.4% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |