Prevailing Wage for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
Prevailing wage for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment (SOC 53-7061) is set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys across more than 500 geographic areas. Whether you work as a Car Washer, Automotive Detailer, Bus Cleaner, or Aircraft Cleaner, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor for each varies significantly by worksite city.
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Entry-level workers with limited or no prior experience in vehicle or equipment cleaning. Typically performs routine washing and basic detailing tasks under close supervision, following standard procedures with little independent judgment required.
Workers with some hands-on experience who perform a range of cleaning and detailing tasks with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment, reflecting typical production-environment hires.
Experienced cleaners who operate with significant independence, handle varied or specialized equipment types, and may informally guide newer staff. Employers filing at this level typically require demonstrated proficiency and a track record in the occupation.
Fully competent senior workers who exercise broad discretion, may lead a cleaning crew or shift, and are responsible for quality control across vehicle or equipment fleets. Employers filing at Level 4 expect minimal supervision and deep occupational expertise.
Prevailing Wage for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
Confirm the worksite city on your LCA
Vehicle cleaning wages span a wide range across metro areas. Wages in San Francisco and San Jose run well above the national median, while Puerto Rico metros sit at the floor. The worksite city listed on your employer's LCA determines which prevailing wage applies, not headquarters.
Watch how signing bonuses affect base wage compliance
DOL prevailing wage compliance for vehicle and equipment cleaners is measured against the regular rate of pay, not total compensation. A one-time signing bonus cannot be averaged into your hourly base to meet the floor. Verify your stated wage rate alone clears the prevailing wage for your worksite.
Check whether your title aliases a different SOC code
Job titles like Detailer or Equipment Technician sometimes get filed under maintenance or production SOC codes rather than 53-7061. If your employer files an LCA under the wrong SOC, the prevailing wage floor changes. Confirm your offer letter title matches the SOC your employer certifies on the LCA.
Find employers who have sponsored this role before
Migrate Mate shows historical visa sponsorship counts by employer, so you can see which companies have actually sponsored Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment in the past. Filter by visa type and location to surface active sponsors rather than cold-applying to employers with no sponsorship history.
Jobs for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-7061.00 alongside Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Aircraft Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Aircraft Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Aircraft Cleaner positions fall under SOC 53-7061.00 (Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Automotive Detailer (Auto Detailer) Prevailing Wage
Automotive Detailer (Auto Detailer) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Automotive Detailer (Auto Detailer) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7061.00 (Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Bus Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Bus Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Bus Cleaner is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7061.00 (Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Car Detailer Prevailing Wage
Car Detailer Prevailing Wage
Car Detailer positions fall under SOC 53-7061.00 (Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Car Washer Prevailing Wage
Car Washer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Car Washer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7061.00 (Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Cleaner is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7061.00 (Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Detail Technician (Detail Tech) Prevailing Wage
Detail Technician (Detail Tech) Prevailing Wage
Detail Technician (Detail Tech) positions fall under SOC 53-7061.00 (Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Detailer Prevailing Wage
Detailer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Detailer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7061.00 (Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Reconditioner Prevailing Wage
Reconditioner Prevailing Wage
Reconditioner is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7061.00 (Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Sanitation Truck Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Sanitation Truck Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Sanitation Truck Cleaner positions fall under SOC 53-7061.00 (Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from employer surveys across hundreds of metro areas. For each area, DOL calculates four wage levels based on experience and skill. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored position must offer at least the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite location. OFLC publishes these figures and updates them annually.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which applies to my offer?
Level 1 is entry-level with minimal experience and close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified workers performing standard tasks with moderate oversight. Level 3 covers experienced workers with significant independence. Level 4 is fully competent, often including lead or crew responsibilities. Your level is determined by the job duties, supervision structure, and experience requirements the employer documents on the LCA, not by your personal experience alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much from city to city?
DOL derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the figures. A metro with high living costs, strong union density, or concentrated demand for vehicle cleaning services produces higher survey wages. The worksite city listed on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters, determines which area wage applies. This means the same job title at the same company can have different prevailing wage floors at different locations.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage floor for the worksite and wage level. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve the H-1B or other sponsored visa petition. If an offer is below the floor, the employer must either raise the salary, reclassify the position to a lower wage level with supporting documentation, or file at a different worksite location where the prevailing wage is lower.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up current prevailing wages by SOC code, wage level, and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 53-7061 and select your worksite area to see all four level wages. Cross-reference with recent LCA disclosure data published by OFLC to see what wages employers have certified for this occupation in that area. Migrate Mate also surfaces which employers have sponsored this role, so you can benchmark offers against real filing history.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment right now.
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