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Service porter vs automotive detailer

The differences between service porters and automotive detailers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a service porter has an average salary of $28,469, which is higher than the $28,357 average annual salary of an automotive detailer.

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

Service porter vs automotive detailer overview

Service PorterAutomotive Detailer
Yearly salary$28,469$28,357
Hourly rate$13.69$13.63
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs10,02737,088
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 51%
Average age3838
Years of experience--

What does a service porter do?

Typically working in car dealerships, a service porter is in charge of performing a variety of tasks to maintain smooth operations. They maintain vehicles in good condition by conducting regular maintenance checks and repairs, refilling gas tanks, inspecting tires and batteries, and cleaning the interior and exterior of cars. There are also instances where they perform clerical support tasks such as answering calls and correspondence, preparing and processing documents, and monitoring the inventory. Moreover, a service porter may also assist potential buyers and keep them company during test drives.

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.

Service porter vs automotive detailer salary

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

Service PorterAutomotive Detailer
Average salary$28,469$28,357
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $35,000Between $22,000 And $35,000
Highest paying CityKirkland, WASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyClean HarborsMars
Best paying industryReal EstateRetail

Differences between service porter and automotive detailer education

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

Service PorterAutomotive Detailer
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 51%
Most common majorBusinessAutomotive Technology
Most common college--

Service porter vs automotive detailer demographics

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

Service PorterAutomotive Detailer
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 88.9% Female, 11.1%Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 4.9% White, 56.1% 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 service porter and automotive detailer duties and responsibilities

Service porter example 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.
  • 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.

Service porter vs automotive detailer skills

Common service porter skills
  • Customer Vehicles, 19%
  • Cleanliness, 12%
  • Work Ethic, 12%
  • Service Drive, 10%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • General Cleanup, 5%
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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