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

Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment Salary in Charlotte, NC

Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $31,260 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,559 take-home, or $2,213 a month.

Median salary
$31,260
$15.03 per hour
Typical range
$22,130 – $44,850
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Charlotte, NC
4,220
1.27× national concentration
▲5.5%
Pay trend: The median for cleaners of vehicles and equipment in Charlotte, NC rose from $29,620 (May 2024) to $31,260 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 3.1%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median cleaner of vehicles and equipment salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment in Charlotte, NC
Deductions, kids & local tax

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

Your take-home pay
$26,559
per year · effective tax rate 15.0%
$2,213Monthly
$1,107Twice a month
$1,021Every 2 weeks
$12.77Hourly
  • Federal income tax$1,571
  • Social Security (6.2%)$1,938
  • Medicare (1.45%)$453
  • North Carolina income tax$739
  • Take-home pay$26,559

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state

The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment pay by experience in Charlotte, NC

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$22,130$10.64$19,460$1,622
25th percentile$26,660$12.82$23,010$1,917
Median (50th)$31,260$15.03$26,559$2,213
75th percentile$37,450$18.00$31,286$2,607
90th percentile (top earners)$44,850$21.56$36,936$3,078

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $31,260 buys in Charlotte, NC

Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cleaner of vehicles and equipment's $26,559 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,282 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,428
65% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,577
71% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$785
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Charlotte, NC has 1.3× the national concentration of cleaner of vehicles and equipment jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.

Best-paying cities for cleaners of vehicles and equipment, adjusted for cost of living

Charlotte, NC ranks #28 of 33 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Cincinnati, OH $36,680$31,426$32,952
2Nashville, TN $36,760$31,717$32,922
3Seattle, WA $42,750$36,530$32,870
4Denver, CO $41,600$34,484$32,599
5Cleveland, OH $35,500$30,510$32,484
6Kansas City, MO $35,480$29,958$32,372
7San Francisco, CA $44,350$36,475$31,550
8St. Louis, MO $35,220$29,761$31,299
28Charlotte, NC$31,260$26,559$27,282

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 33 metros →

About the job: cleaners of vehicles and equipment

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)

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

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cleaner of vehicles and equipment make in Charlotte, NC?

The median cleaner of vehicles and equipment salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $31,260 a year, or about $15.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,660 and $37,450.

What is a cleaner of vehicles and equipment’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?

On the median $31,260 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $26,559 a year ($2,213 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $739 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.

Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a cleaner of vehicles and equipment?

Pay here is 13% below the national median of $35,830. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,282 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #28 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a cleaner of vehicles and equipment afford rent in Charlotte, NC?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 65% of a median cleaner of vehicles and equipment’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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