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Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants

Also called Attendant, Fuel Dock Attendant, Gas Attendant, or Service Station Attendant

What Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants do

Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants 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.

Who tends to enjoy it

Hands-on

People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.

Organizing

People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.

Leading

People who like persuading, selling, starting things, and taking charge.

What you'd actually do

  • 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.
  • Rotate, test, and repair or replace tires.

A typical day involves

Face-to-face with people Wearing safety gear Using your hands Deadlines and time pressure Standing Outdoors in all weather Around hazardous equipment Working with the public Part of a team Walking or running Indoors without climate control

Skills that matter most

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Service Orientation
  • Operation and Control
  • Time Management
  • Critical Thinking

What you'll need to know

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

Related careers

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

Maintenance Workers, Machinery

Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.

Medium preparation

Transportation and Material Moving

Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.

Little to some preparation

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 53-6031.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.