How to hire a service porter

How to hire a service porter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step service porter hiring guide:

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

What does a service porter do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a service porter, 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?

   Yes

   No

   A service porter's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, service porters from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of service porter salaries for various roles:

   Type of Service Porter	Description	Hourly rate
   Service Porter	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$10-16
   Automotive Detailer	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... Show more	$10-16
   Aircraft Cleaner	An Aircraft Cleaner specializes in maintaining the cleanliness of an aircraft's interior and exterior according to protocols and standards. Their responsibilities include cleaning cabins and compartments, disinfecting restrooms, utilizing tools and equipment, and replenishing stocks such as soap and tissue... Show more	$11-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Vehicles
   • Cleanliness
   • Work Ethic
   • Service Drive
   • Customer Service
   • General Cleanup
   • Honda
   • Tire Pressure
   • Customer Cars
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Customer Pickup
   • Dealership Display Standards
   • Floor Mats
   • Drive Vehicles

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage stock of the vehicles; document vehicle locations and individual VIN numbers.
   • Ensure customer satisfaction through efficient maintenance of service areas and improve cleanliness.
   • Wash and detail RV's as well as transport to sublet repair shops.
   • Maintain the proper inventory records of all vehicles and ensure that they match the correct RV.
   • Maintain cleanliness around service department and showroom.
   • Prepare cleaning solutions as necessary and follow safety procedures as prescribed by OSHA.

   More service porter duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the service porter job description is a good way to get more applicants. A service porter salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a service porter in Alabama may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level service porter. Additionally, a service porter with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average service porter salary

   $13.69hourly

   $28,469 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level service porter salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average service porter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$38,668	$19
   2	California	$33,853	$16
   3	Oregon	$33,303	$16
   4	Colorado	$30,209	$15
   5	Illinois	$29,804	$14
   6	Minnesota	$29,708	$14
   7	Missouri	$28,940	$14
   8	Kansas	$28,512	$14
   9	Ohio	$27,092	$13
   10	Indiana	$26,783	$13
   11	Texas	$26,636	$13
   12	Tennessee	$26,377	$13
   13	Maryland	$26,093	$13
   14	Florida	$24,929	$12
   15	Georgia	$23,767	$11
   16	North Carolina	$22,440	$11

   Average service porter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Clean Harbors	$32,669	$15.71
   2	CVS Health	$31,911	$15.34
   3	Hyatt Hotels	$30,868	$14.84	2
   4	The Mountain	$30,785	$14.80
   5	Subaru	$30,506	$14.67	2
   6	Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama	$30,212	$14.53	4
   7	Stars and Stripes	$30,177	$14.51
   8	Asbury Automotive Group	$30,093	$14.47	12
   9	Larkin Community Hospital	$30,004	$14.43	5
   10	George's	$29,696	$14.28	1
   11	Hyundai Securities	$29,585	$14.22	13
   12	Propark Mobility	$29,441	$14.15	9
   13	University Health	$29,218	$14.05
   14	Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City	$29,207	$14.04
   15	VW Credit Inc.	$29,086	$13.98
   16	asbury.com	$29,079	$13.98
   17	St. Louis	$29,060	$13.97	1
   18	Classic Chevrolet	$29,023	$13.95
   19	Smarte Carte	$29,009	$13.95	2
   20	Penske Automotive Group	$28,910	$13.90

4. Writing a service porter job description

   A job description for a service porter 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 service porter job description:

   Service porter job description example

   Considering a career with Ken Garff Automotive Group means you are in for a great ride (excuse the car metaphor)! We're not your standard dealership or group of dealerships and we are pretty darn proud of that. We are out to do things differently and want to consistently change, grow, and progress. For that reason, our employees are proud of where they work!
   
   Long Beach Honda, a Ken Garff Automotive Dealership, is currently looking for a talented Service Lot Technician (Valet) that aligns with our core values and acts with respect, intelligence, greatness, honesty and teamwork.
   
   As a group, we aim to become the most esteemed automotive group by treating people R.I.G.H.T and creating lifetime customers!
   Here's why you'll want to work here:
   Paid training and real career growth Competitive compensation package Great people with a great culture Paid Time Off and 401k with Company match Medical, Dental, Vision, Short and Long-term disability, AD&D and Life InsuranceYear-end bonus program for all employees (Garff Giveback) Employee discounts on Vehicle Purchase, Parts, Service and More!
   
   Here's what you'll be doing:
   From staging vehicles to greeting customers, this role is essential to the function of the dealership Greeting customers as they enter our service drive Direct customers where to go and interact with them in a friendly, caring manner Prepare and move vehicles from service drive to parking area Clean, organize service drive and assist service team as needed Keep the drive clear by parking cars, recording inventory, and storing keys Supporting the service team, as needed, through miscellaneous duties
   
   Here's what you'll need:
   Must be 18 years or older and be authorized to work in the U.SA valid in-state driver's license and a good driving record, per company standards Positive attitude and high energy Ability to read and comprehend job-related instructions and information whether electronic or paper-based.Be able to accommodate the physical requirements of the role: standing 6-8 hours per day and will be exposed to noise, vibration, dust, exhaust fumes, and a variety of other hazardous and non-hazardous materials. This role will spend a majority of the time outdoors and be exposed to the elements.
   
   We are an Equal Opportunity Employer
   (( We Hear You ))

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find service porters for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your service porter job on Zippia to find and recruit service porter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with service porter candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 service porter

   Once you've selected the best service porter candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   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 service porter?