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How to hire a parking lot attendant

Parking lot attendant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring parking lot attendants in the United States:

  • There are currently 26,302 parking lot attendants in the US, as well as 49,080 job openings.
  • Parking lot attendants are in the highest demand in Dallas, TX, with 6 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a parking lot attendant is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new parking lot attendant to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a parking lot attendant, step by step

To hire a parking lot attendant, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a parking lot attendant:

Here's a step-by-step parking lot attendant hiring guide:

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

What does a parking lot attendant do?

A parking lot attendant is primarily in charge of maintaining the smooth flow of traffic in and out of a garage or parking lot. Most parking attendants have the responsibility to assist clients and ensure all fees are paid while maintaining a professional and courteous approach. They also patrol the site and look out for illegally parked vehicles and maintain the cleanliness of their assigned area. Additionally, they must keep an open communication line with team members, reporting to managers regularly.

Learn more about the specifics of what a parking lot attendant does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a parking lot attendant, 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?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a parking lot attendant 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 parking lot attendant that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of parking lot attendants.

    Type of Parking Lot AttendantDescriptionHourly rate
    Parking Lot Attendant$10-18
    Valet DriverAs an employee of a hotel or restaurant, a valet driver is tasked with the responsibility of driving patron's vehicles to the parking area. Their responsibilities include retrieving vehicles for customers on request, answering inquiries, and keeping a record of the exact location of each vehicle under their care... Show more$10-19
    AttendantAn attendant is responsible for ensuring excellent customer service by assisting customers with their needs and inquiries, managing complaints, and providing timely actions. Attendants duties include maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of operational areas, monitoring product inventories and requesting necessary stocks and equipment, performing administrative tasks as needed, escalating concerns to the management for immediate resolution, and conducting maintenance services... Show more$9-17
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patrol
    • Hand Signals
    • Vehicle Damage
    • Space Usage
    • Car Doors
    • Cleanliness
    • Front End
    • Excellent Guest
    • Customer Service
    • Cash Handling
    • Traffic Flow
    • Direct Traffic
    • Strong Customer Service
    • Customer Complaints
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage access to the VIP lot -coordinate staff placement -work as a group to efficiently direct large flows of traffic
    • Maintain cleanliness of equipment and floor adhering to sanitation regulations.
    • Provide 5-star service to ensure positive first and last impression for the guests of various fine dining restaurants and VIP events.
    • Perform PDI's to new inventory vehicles.
    • Put all new vehicles through PDI and handle new car paperwork.
    • Maintain the lot at home depot.
    More parking lot attendant duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your parking lot attendant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A parking lot attendant salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, parking lot attendants' average salary in louisiana is 52% less than in vermont.
    • Seniority. Entry-level parking lot attendants earn 44% less than senior-level parking lot attendants.
    • Certifications. A parking lot attendant 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 parking lot attendant's salary.

    Average parking lot attendant salary

    $14.28hourly

    $29,699 yearly

    Entry-level parking lot attendant salary
    $22,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 30, 2026

    Average parking lot attendant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$39,689$19
    2Massachusetts$39,343$19
    3Washington$38,283$18
    4California$35,490$17
    5Illinois$32,961$16
    6Colorado$31,155$15
    7New Jersey$29,735$14
    8Maryland$28,660$14
    9Missouri$28,545$14
    10Michigan$28,370$14
    11Wisconsin$28,175$14
    12Connecticut$27,991$13
    13North Carolina$25,518$12
    14Georgia$24,824$12
    15Virginia$23,651$11
    16Florida$23,404$11
    17Texas$22,699$11
    18Oklahoma$19,921$10

    Average parking lot attendant salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Meijer$39,716$19.0930
    2McMenamins Pubs & Breweries$35,282$16.96
    3Retail$34,672$16.67
    4H-E-B$33,936$16.323
    5Mount Sinai Health System$32,713$15.734
    6Park$32,223$15.492
    7Wegmans Food Markets$32,147$15.4618
    8Syracuse University$32,064$15.421
    9Live Nation Entertainment$31,819$15.3027
    10Service Corporation International$31,397$15.0931
    11Rose Hills Mortuary$30,382$14.613
    12The Spokesman-Review$30,300$14.57
    13Reef$30,250$14.542
    14Giant Eagle$30,127$14.48
    15Park Nicollet Medical Center Inc$29,950$14.40
    16Caliper Family of Companies$29,906$14.38
    17Sodexo Management, Inc.$29,709$14.28212
    18Robert Half$29,670$14.26
    19Carvana$29,648$14.2526
    20PeopleReady$29,473$14.1716
  4. Writing a parking lot attendant job description

    A job description for a parking lot attendant role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a parking lot attendant job description:

    Parking lot attendant job description example

    Pay rate: $15/hour

    Who You ll Work For

    REEF s mission is to connect the world to your block.

    We transform underutilized urban spaces into neighborhood hubs that connect people to locally curated goods, services, and experiences.

    With an ecosystem of 5,000 locations and a team of 15,000 people, REEF is the largest operator of mobility, logistics hubs, and neighborhood kitchens in United States, Canada, and has a growing presence in Europe.

    Together we are leveraging the power of proximity to keep our communities moving forward in a sustainable and thoughtful way.

    What You'll Do:

    The Lot Attendant performs a variety of tasks to ensure a smooth operation of the parking facility, while delivering service that exceeds our customer/client s expectations. Depending on the needs of the location the Lot Attendant is responsible for greeting guests, issuing tickets, collecting payment, completing car counts, and ensuring facility cleanliness. The Lot Attendant works closely with fellow team members, Operations Manager, and/or Shift Supervisor to ensure that cleanliness as well as safety standards are met at all times

    • Greet arriving and departing guests in a friendly and courteous manner.
    • Act as traffic controller to direct incoming guests to available parking spaces.
    • Perform vehicle counts on location throughout shift to ensure garage does not over fill available spaces.
    • Perform daily patrols and issue violation warnings to tenants and visitors that violate garage policies.
    • Control traffic at entrances and exits as needed; provide assistance to guests who have forgotten where they parked.
    • Assist in the maintenance and repair of parking equipment and any general maintenance tasks as directed by the Facility or Operations.
    • Use respectful communication to assist guests with their questions, problems, and concerns; relay information to Operations Manager or
    • Immediately report any accidents, incidents or safety concerns to Operations Manager or Shift Lead.
    • Communicate professionally at all times with guests, client, and teammates.
    • Employee must be able to perform essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.
    What We Want From You:
    • At least 18 years of age
    • Excellent customer service and communication skills
    • Ability to verbally communicate with guests
    • Previous customer service experience, preferred

    What We'll Provide:

    Uniforms Provided

    On the job training

    Growth and career opportunities

    PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

    • The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
    • Occasionally move around the property by walking for extended periods of time.
    • Frequently operate small office equipment such as cash register, calculator, copier/printer
    • Will remain in seated position for extended periods of time.

    WORKING CONDITIONS:

    • Work is outdoors.
    • Employees are subject to environmental conditions including extreme heat and cold weather.
    • Protection from weather conditions may be provided, but not necessarily from temperature changes.

    REEF Technology is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity at our company. REEF does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. REEF complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction in which it operates.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right parking lot attendant for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with parking lot attendants they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit parking lot attendants who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your parking lot attendant job on Zippia to find and recruit parking lot attendant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit parking lot attendants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    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 parking lot attendant

    Once you have selected a candidate for the parking lot attendant position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  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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How much does it cost to hire a parking lot attendant?

Recruiting parking lot attendants involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $29,699 per year for a parking lot attendant, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for parking lot attendants in the US typically range between $10 and $18 an hour.

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