Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of automotive and watercraft service attendants to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035 (about 3,900 more jobs), with about 12,900 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $35,670 a year ranks 794th of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +3.8%
- Openings a year
- 12,900
- Median pay
- $35,670
- Pay rank
- 794th of 825
Is employment of automotive and watercraft service attendants growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of automotive and watercraft service attendants to rise 3.8% (about 3,900 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is about the same as the +4.3% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 50 transportation and material moving occupations with a projection. That change ranks 323rd of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 102,400 |
| Employment, 2035 | 106,300 |
| Projected change | +3.8% |
| Openings a year | 12,900 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 102,400 jobs here differ from the 102,010 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 12,900 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 226th most of 830 occupations. About 97% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 390 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for automotive and watercraft service attendants rank?
The median of $35,670 a year ranks 794th of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the upper half of occupations on openings and the lower half on pay.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: no formal educational credential.
- Typical on-the-job training: short-term on-the-job training.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | +4.3% | 1,000 | $61,770 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | +3.9% | 51,500 | $35,830 |
| Aircraft Service Attendants | +5.6% | 4,000 | $40,450 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | +2.1% | 300 | $77,320 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | +5.0% | 66,200 | $50,620 |
| Maintenance Workers, Machinery | -1.9% | 4,400 | $60,850 |
| Home Appliance Repairers | +1.9% | 2,800 | $50,990 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | +3.6% | 24,400 | $61,770 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.