The median pay for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants is $35,670 a year ($17.15/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.8% through 2035, with about 12,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 53-6031
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant in four numbers
- Median pay
- $35,670a year, or $17.15/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $29KTop 10% $46K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.8%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 12,900102,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025102.4K
- Projected 2035106.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 102.4K Projected 2035 106.3K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school16.3%
- High school58.6%
- Certificate22.7%
- Some college2.4%
Highest education held by automotive and watercraft service attendants Segment Value Less than high school 16.3% High school 58.6% Certificate 22.7% Some college 2.4%
Also advertised as: Attendant, Dock Attendant, Dock Hand, Fuel Attendant, Fuel Dock Attendant, Gas Attendant.
Pay
How much do Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants make?
Every automotive and watercraft service attendant in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$35,670
Middle half earn $31,300 to $39,320
- 10th
- $28,630
- 25th
- $31,300
- 75th
- $39,320
- 90th
- $46,060
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $28,630 |
| 25th | $31,300 |
| Median | $35,670 |
| 75th | $39,320 |
| 90th | $46,060 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $35,670
- Median hourly wage
- $17.15/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $36,780
- People employed
- 102,010
Versus all US occupations
At $35,670, Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants earn 30% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $15,310 a year.
Versus transportation and material moving occupations
Inside the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $62,840, this is 43% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $46,060 or more while the bottom 10% earn $28,630, a gap of 1.6×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 2% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Hawaii posts the highest raw median ($43,630), but once local prices are taken into account Missouri leads at $41,986 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hawaii | $43,630 | $39,681 | 270 |
| 2California | $41,770 | $37,726 | 10,190 |
| 3District of Columbia | $41,750 | $37,989 | N/A |
| 4Rhode Island | $41,690 | $40,761 | 120 |
| 5Connecticut | $41,600 | $40,151 | 420 |
| 6Alaska | $41,590 | $40,632 | 280 |
| 7New Hampshire | $40,030 | $38,429 | 200 |
| 8Washington | $39,440 | $36,855 | 2,620 |
| 9Montana | $38,700 | $40,890 | 460 |
| 10Vermont | $38,700 | $39,507 | 170 |
Job outlook
Is Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | +3.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants to change 3.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 3,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 12,900 openings are projected each year, 12.6% of the 102,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as automotive and watercraft service attendants.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)58.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate22.7%
- Less than a High School Diploma16.3%
- Some College Courses2.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 58.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 22.7% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 16.3% |
| Some College Courses | 2.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant do?
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Check tire pressure and levels of fuel, motor oil, transmission, radiator, battery, or other fluids, adding air or fluids as required.
- Grease and lubricate vehicles or specified units, such as springs, universal joints, or steering knuckles, using grease guns or spray lubricants.
- Sell and install accessories, such as batteries, windshield wiper blades, fan belts, bulbs, or headlamps.
- Rotate, test, and repair or replace tires.
- Perform minor repairs, such as adjusting brakes, replacing spark plugs, or changing engine oil or filters.
- Collect cash payments from customers, and make change or charge purchases to customers' credit cards, providing customers with receipts.
- Order stock, and price and shelve incoming goods.
- Clean parking areas, offices, restrooms, or equipment, and remove trash.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Monitoring2.8
- Writing2.6
- Active Learning2.5
- Mathematics2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
| Active Learning | 2.5 |
| Mathematics | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.1
- Operation and Control3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Equipment Maintenance3.0
- Repairing3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.0 |
| Repairing | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Internet browser software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Development environment software
- Inventory management software
- Time accounting software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.4
- Conventional4.4
- Enterprising2.1
- Social2.0
- Investigative1.3
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant
O*NET related occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic
$50,620median a year
Most earn $35K to $82K
+5.0%Certificate - Transportation and Material Moving
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Transportation and Material Moving
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment
$35,830median a year
Most earn $27K to $48K
+3.9%No formal credential - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist
$61,770median a year
Most earn $45K to $89K
+3.6%High school
More transportation and material moving careers
Median annual pay, with automotive and watercraft service attendants highlighted
- Airline Pilot$232,140
- Commercial Pilot$123,220
- Locomotive Engineer$81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster$78,000
- Crane and Tower Operator$68,080
- Flight Attendant$63,580
- Truck Driver$58,640
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant$35,670
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilot | $232,140 |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $78,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $68,080 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant | $35,670 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant appears on
Questions
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant: frequently asked questions
How much do Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants make?
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants earn a median of $35,670 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 30% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $17.15/hr. The middle half earn between $31,300 and $39,320. The top 10% earn $46,060 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 58.6% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.8% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 12,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant do?
Service automobiles, buses, trucks, boats, and other automotive or marine vehicles with fuel, lubricants, and accessories. A core O*NET task: check tire pressure and levels of fuel, motor oil, transmission, radiator, battery, or other fluids, adding air or fluids as required. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Internet browser software, Operating system software.
Which states pay Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants the most?
The highest state medians for Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants are Hawaii ($43,630), California ($41,770), District of Columbia ($41,750) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Missouri moves to the top at $41,986.
What personality type suits an Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant?
O*NET scores Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.