Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment Salary in Washington, DC
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $36,730 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,655 take-home, or $2,555 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cleaner of vehicles and equipment salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,228
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,277
- Medicare (1.45%)$533
- District of Columbia income tax$1,038
- Take-home pay$30,655
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,160 | $14.98 | $26,513 | $2,209 |
| 25th percentile | $34,210 | $16.45 | $28,781 | $2,398 |
| Median (50th) | $36,730 | $17.66 | $30,655 | $2,555 |
| 75th percentile | $43,090 | $20.72 | $35,383 | $2,949 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,960 | $24.50 | $41,235 | $3,436 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,730 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cleaner of vehicles and equipment's $30,655 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,154 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment jobs are less concentrated in Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cleaners of vehicles and equipment, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #23 of 33 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati, OH | $36,680 | $31,426 | $32,952 |
| 2 | Nashville, TN | $36,760 | $31,717 | $32,922 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $42,750 | $36,530 | $32,870 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $41,600 | $34,484 | $32,599 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,500 | $30,510 | $32,484 |
| 6 | Kansas City, MO | $35,480 | $29,958 | $32,372 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $44,350 | $36,475 | $31,550 |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $35,220 | $29,761 | $31,299 |
| 23 | Washington, DC | $36,730 | $30,655 | $28,154 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median cleaner of vehicles and equipment salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $36,730 a year, or about $17.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,210 and $43,090.
What is a cleaner of vehicles and equipment’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $36,730 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $30,655 a year ($2,555 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,038 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a cleaner of vehicles and equipment?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $35,830. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,154 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #23 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cleaner of vehicles and equipment afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 78% of a median cleaner of vehicles and equipment’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $209,750
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $67,960
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $65,220
- Flight Attendant — $63,580
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,820
- Bus Drivers, School — $57,610
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,710
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $46,530
- Light Truck Driver — $46,360
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $45,640
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $42,590
- Driver/Sales Worker — $38,790