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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment Salary

Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment earn a median $35,830 a year nationally. Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

U.S. median
$35,830
$17.23 per hour
Range
$27,380 – $47,610
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
380,430
across the U.S.
▲1.6%
Pay trend: The median for cleaners of vehicles and equipment in the U.S. rose from $35,270 (May 2024) to $35,830 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.8%.

What cleaners of vehicles and equipment do

Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.

Typical education
No formal educational credential
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
+3.9% (about average)
Openings per year
51,500
Self-employed
8%

Employment of cleaners of vehicles and equipment is projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 51,500 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$30,969
per year · effective tax rate 13.6%
$2,581Monthly
$1,290Twice a month
$1,191Every 2 weeks
$14.89Hourly
  • Federal income tax$2,120
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,221
  • Medicare (1.45%)$520
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$30,969

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$27,380$13.16$24,157
25th percentile$30,420$14.63$26,622
Median (50th)$35,830$17.23$30,969
75th percentile$41,040$19.73$35,156
90th percentile (top earners)$47,610$22.89$40,435

Best cities for cleaners of vehicles and equipment (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Cincinnati, OH$36,680$31,426$32,9523,080
2Nashville, TN$36,760$31,717$32,9222,790
3Seattle, WA$42,750$36,530$32,8704,120
4Denver, CO$41,600$34,484$32,5994,190
5Cleveland, OH$35,500$30,510$32,4842,510
6Kansas City, MO$35,480$29,958$32,3723,490
7San Francisco, CA$44,350$36,475$31,5504,930
8St. Louis, MO$35,220$29,761$31,2993,810
9Minneapolis, MN$38,130$31,596$30,1432,790
10New York, NY$41,540$33,911$30,12619,280
11Sacramento, CA$37,700$31,485$29,5162,410
12Portland, OR$39,220$31,091$29,4923,120
13Indianapolis, IN$33,470$28,115$29,3802,590
14Boston, MA$38,950$31,749$29,3253,530
15Tampa, FL$34,090$29,571$29,3103,610
16Phoenix, AZ$35,620$30,119$29,1524,800
17Las Vegas, NV$33,350$28,977$28,9152,910
18Chicago, IL$36,580$29,906$28,86812,030
19Detroit, MI$34,780$28,898$28,8124,160
20Philadelphia, PA$35,160$29,352$28,6215,680
21Riverside, CA$36,230$30,381$28,5435,100
22Baltimore, MD$35,780$29,593$28,3223,080
23Washington, DC$36,730$30,655$28,1545,560
24Austin, TX$31,200$27,249$27,7872,600
25San Diego, CA$37,120$31,049$27,7513,370

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
District of Columbia $42,710−6.2%$35,101 $36,400 – $54,540350
Alaska $40,210+9.1%$34,489 $35,660 – $58,330620
Washington $40,070+1.1%$34,376 $35,470 – $52,1208,270
Colorado $39,610+0.3%$32,972 $35,350 – $49,4406,750
Vermont $39,530+5.7%$33,052 $31,920 – $49,250620
New York $39,390+0.3%$32,300 $33,640 – $72,18020,390
Massachusetts $38,630+2.2%$31,508 $32,830 – $48,5505,100
Oregon $38,070+1.6%$30,268 $33,160 – $50,5405,550
California $37,920+1.7%$31,650 $34,890 – $49,09046,030
Minnesota $37,580+3.3%$31,184 $30,950 – $47,6904,460
Hawaii $37,560+4.4%$30,955 $31,670 – $53,5101,180
Delaware $37,440+18.4%$30,862 $31,200 – $44,1001,280
Maine $37,440+2.8%$30,883 $30,910 – $50,0901,150
New Hampshire $37,420−1.3%$32,247 $30,200 – $48,1201,030
Kansas $37,370−2.0%$30,921 $28,620 – $46,0706,410
Rhode Island $37,340+8.7%$31,399 $31,200 – $51,990780
North Dakota $37,290+3.0%$32,143 $30,130 – $46,1901,330
Nebraska $37,160+1.4%$31,227 $30,060 – $50,3204,570
New Jersey $37,090+2.8%$31,401 $32,220 – $46,4409,930
Montana $36,510+2.0%$30,557 $29,330 – $46,8001,490
Maryland $36,390+1.4%$30,054 $31,200 – $56,1306,010
Illinois $35,930+3.8%$29,416 $31,200 – $55,99016,350
Iowa $35,920+15.1%$30,329 $28,120 – $45,3704,190
Connecticut $35,870+3.6%$30,312 $34,010 – $45,9103,480
Idaho $35,640−0.4%$30,036 $26,440 – $44,4302,840
Arizona $35,410+0.8%$29,955 $31,200 – $46,7106,260
Wisconsin $35,280−0.1%$29,756 $26,270 – $47,3707,040
Ohio $35,230+1.4%$30,301 $27,120 – $45,67013,750
South Dakota $35,050+2.1%$30,343 $27,910 – $43,0401,510
Arkansas $34,970+3.1%$29,127 $26,840 – $42,4205,140
Tennessee $34,950+0.9%$30,262 $26,350 – $47,3308,420
Indiana $34,940−1.0%$29,253 $26,980 – $47,9207,520
Utah $34,900+2.1%$29,618 $28,450 – $45,0904,580
Missouri $34,670+9.7%$29,345 $28,600 – $46,6309,150
Pennsylvania $34,650−0.9%$28,958 $25,420 – $46,93011,710
Kentucky $34,470+7.5%$28,788 $27,260 – $49,7505,580
Virginia $34,450−1.3%$28,694 $27,540 – $47,5008,860
Nevada $34,230−1.0%$29,684 $25,790 – $44,1203,790
South Carolina $34,230+15.4%$28,787 $22,930 – $42,9705,720
Michigan $33,890−2.2%$28,221 $25,960 – $45,14010,320
Wyoming $33,890+5.2%$29,411 $27,340 – $42,600720
North Carolina $33,470+9.0%$28,246 $22,530 – $44,52013,820
Florida $33,380+5.0%$29,001 $28,310 – $45,13024,920
Oklahoma $30,880+2.6%$26,148 $23,020 – $44,8005,080
Georgia $30,610+2.4%$25,809 $23,880 – $46,13012,180
New Mexico $30,310+0.0%$26,173 $26,860 – $41,1401,820
Texas $29,450+0.6%$25,843 $22,930 – $43,43037,750
West Virginia $29,390+6.1%$25,049 $23,920 – $36,7301,260
Alabama $29,360−5.8%$24,568 $23,580 – $41,6006,440
Mississippi $28,640−1.7%$24,779 $21,040 – $37,7302,790
Louisiana $27,600−1.2%$23,897 $21,210 – $43,9804,140

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280No formal educational credential-5.0%
Stocker and Order Filler$37,330No formal educational credential+8.9%
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240No formal educational credential+1.8%
Machine Feeder and Offbearer$41,220No formal educational credential-13.1%
Material Moving Workers, All Other$41,800No formal educational credential+2.7%
Conveyor Operator and Tender$42,420No formal educational credential-2.6%
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$46,420No formal educational credential+1.5%
Dredge Operator$49,640High school diploma or equivalent+0.7%
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690No formal educational credential+2.1%
Hoist and Winch Operator$56,450No formal educational credential+0.2%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cleaner of vehicles and equipment make?

The national median salary for cleaners of vehicles and equipment is $35,830 a year ($17.23 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,380 and the top 10% earn over $47,610. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays cleaners of vehicles and equipment the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $42,710. After taxes and local prices, Cincinnati, OH offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many cleaners of vehicles and equipment are there in the U.S.?

About 380,430 people work as cleaners of vehicles and equipment nationwide.

All 33 cities