Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants

Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed

Service automobiles, buses, trucks, boats, and other automotive or marine vehicles with fuel, lubricants, and accessories. Collect payment for services and supplies. May lubricate vehicle, change motor oil, refill antifreeze, or replace lights or other accessories, such as windshield wiper blades or fan belts. May repair or replace tires.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $35,670/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$28,630$46,060

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: -1% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.

About 14,400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Active ListeningSpeakingOperation and ControlTime ManagementService OrientationCritical ThinkingCoordinationEquipment MaintenanceComplex Problem SolvingRepairing

Top knowledge areas

Customer and Personal ServiceMechanicalSales and MarketingAdministration and ManagementMathematicsAdministrativeEngineering and TechnologyEducation and Training

Core tasks

• Collect cash payments from customers, and make change or charge purchases to customers' credit cards, providing customers with receipts.

• Check tire pressure and levels of fuel, motor oil, transmission, radiator, battery, or other fluids, adding air or fluids as required.

• Perform minor repairs, such as adjusting brakes, replacing spark plugs, or changing engine oil or filters.

• Clean parking areas, offices, restrooms, or equipment, and remove trash.

• Order stock, and price and shelve incoming goods.

• Sell and install accessories, such as batteries, windshield wiper blades, fan belts, bulbs, or headlamps.

• Grease and lubricate vehicles or specified units, such as springs, universal joints, or steering knuckles, using grease guns or spray lubricants.

• Rotate, test, and repair or replace tires.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants?

The median pay for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants is $35,670 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants?

Employment for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants is projected to change -1% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.

What education is typically required for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants?

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

How many job openings are there each year for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants?

About 14,400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.