Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants

Career Overview

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.

Also Known As

  • Attendant
  • Fuel Dock Attendant
  • Gas Attendant
  • Service Station Attendant

Alternate Job Titles

  • Attendant
  • Auto Garage Attendant
  • Auto Self Service Station Attendant
  • Auto Service Station Attendant
  • Auto Servicer
  • Automobile Self-Serve Service Station Attendant
  • Automobile Service Station Attendant
  • Automobile Technician
  • Automotive Service Advisor
  • Battery Charger
  • Boat Fueler
  • Bus Greaser
  • Buster
  • Car Greaser
  • Car Lubricator

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

  • 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.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Mechanical
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Administration and Management

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

  • Oral Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Trunk Strength
  • Manual Dexterity
  • Finger Dexterity
  • Near Vision
  • Control Precision
  • Multilimb Coordination
  • Static Strength
  • Stamina

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cautiousness
  • Integrity
  • Cooperation

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

  • Support
  • Relationships
  • Independence
  • Working Conditions
  • Achievement

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

  • Apple Safari
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Mozilla Firefox

Tools & Equipment

  • Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Cash registers
  • Desktop computers
  • Electronic engine analyzers
  • Fuel pumps
  • Glass squeegees
  • Grease guns
  • Handheld battery testers
  • Handheld calculators
  • Holding clamps
  • Hub-cap pullers
  • Hydraulic automobile lifts
  • Hydraulic jacks
  • Lug wrenches
  • Optical price scanners

Work Environment

  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  • Telephone Conversations
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
  • Time Pressure

Salary & Job Market

Salary PercentileAnnual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)$27,870
Median$34,850
Top Earners (90th percentile)$45,240

Workers Employed Nationally: 98,270

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)

Median Salary: $49,670

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Median Salary: $60,020

Maintenance Workers, Machinery

Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)

Median Salary: $60,500

Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Median Salary: $35,270

Home Appliance Repairers

Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Median Salary: $49,410


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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

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