Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
Machines can already do 19% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 58%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 19% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2034, and 58% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 380,430 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $35,830 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 58% for contact with people.
- Also called: Aircraft Cleaner, Automotive Detailer (Auto Detailer), Bus Cleaner, Car Detailer.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scrub, scrape, or spray machine parts, equipment, or vehicles, using scrapers, brushes, clothes, cleaners, disinfectants, insecticides, acid, abrasives, vacuums, or hoses | 24% | 20% to 60% | |
| Rinse objects and place them on drying racks or use cloth, squeegees, or air compressors to dry surfaces | 16% | 20% to 60% | |
| Apply paints, dyes, polishes, reconditioners, waxes, or masking materials to vehicles to preserve, protect, or restore color or condition | 10% | 20% to 60% | |
| Sweep, shovel, or vacuum loose debris or salvageable scrap into containers and remove containers from work areas | 9% | 20% to 60% | |
| Clean and polish vehicle windows | 8% | 3% to 30% | |
| Drive vehicles to or from workshops or customers' workplaces or homes | 5% | 30% to 75% | |
| Inspect parts, equipment, or vehicles for cleanliness, damage, and compliance with standards or regulations | 5% | 3% to 30% | |
| Pre-soak or rinse machine parts, equipment, or vehicles by immersing objects in cleaning solutions or water, manually or using hoists | 5% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills cleaners of vehicles and equipment use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers54% of tasks by 2035 · US median $34,890
- Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons53% of tasks by 2035 · US median $40,470
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance54% of tasks by 2035 · US median $49,400
- Upholsterers40% of tasks by 2035 · US median $46,340
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2034. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of cleaners of vehicles and equipment?
Machines can do 19% of the tasks of cleaners of vehicles and equipment today and 58% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 53-7061.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/cleaners-of-vehicles-and-equipment/