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Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

The short answer

This job is less likely to change much. Most of the work is the kind AI can't help with. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to hold steady over the next decade, with about 3,317 openings expected each year.

Step 1

Where your job stands

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. Most of what it involves isn't the kind of work AI can take over.

How much AI could touch this job

Least exposedband 1 of 5
least exposedmost exposed

Looking at the job itself, AI could help with a small part of this job's tasks.

What this means

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.

Step 2

What AI can and can’t help with in this job

This job is in the least exposed fifth of New York jobs for AI exposure. The tasks below show why: most of what it involves is work AI can't simply take over.

AI can help with or automate about 10% of the tasks in this job.

Tasks AI can help with or automate

  1. Inspect parts, equipment, or vehicles for cleanliness, damage, and compliance with standards or regulations.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  2. Maintain inventories of supplies.

    AI could do much of this on its own

Tasks AI can't do much of

  1. Rinse objects and place them on drying racks or use cloth, squeegees, or air compressors to dry surfaces.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  2. Apply paints, dyes, polishes, reconditioners, waxes, or masking materials to vehicles to preserve, protect, or restore color or condition.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  3. Clean and polish vehicle windows.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  4. Drive vehicles to or from workshops or customers' workplaces or homes.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  5. Scrub, scrape, or spray machine parts, equipment, or vehicles, using scrapers, brushes, clothes, cleaners, disinfectants, insecticides, acid, abrasives, vacuums, or hoses.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

Step 3

Jobs you could switch to

If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.

See related jobs in

The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.

  • Machine Feeders and Offbearers

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    +10% pay94 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 10% more—$44,400 vs your $40,249 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Control Precision
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Oral Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Production and Processing
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    • Rate Control
    • Written Expression
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    Pays about 22% more—$49,094 vs your $40,249 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Trunk Strength

    New skills to build

    • Visual Color Discrimination
    • Auditory Attention
    • Perceptual Speed
    • Flexibility of Closure
    • Hearing Sensitivity
  • Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

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    +13% pay11,417 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 13% more—$45,611 vs your $40,249 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Multilimb Coordination

    New skills to build

    • Production and Processing
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    • Education and Training
    • Administration and Management
  • Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders

    Very similar work
    +18% pay45 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 18% more—$47,350 vs your $40,249 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Control Precision
    • Trunk Strength
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Multilimb Coordination

    New skills to build

    • Production and Processing
    • Perceptual Speed
    • Auditory Attention
    • Psychology
  • Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

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    +6% pay32,255 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 6% more—$42,694 vs your $40,249 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes one to two years.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Trunk Strength
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Multilimb Coordination

    Your current skills largely cover this move.

  • Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

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    Pays about 41% more—$56,717 vs your $40,249 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Multilimb Coordination

    New skills to build

    • Hearing Sensitivity
    • Mechanical
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    • Reaction Time
    • Transportation
  • Dishwashers

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    slightly less pay6,093 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$36,343 vs your $40,249 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Manual Dexterity
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Trunk Strength
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness

    New skills to build

    • Food Production
  • Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

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    +20% pay31 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 20% more—$48,321 vs your $40,249 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Control Precision
    • Operations Monitoring

    New skills to build

    • Production and Processing
    • Mechanical
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Hearing Sensitivity
  • Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

    Somewhat similar work
    +70% pay51 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 70% more—$68,591 vs your $40,249 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of experience, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes one to two years.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Control Precision

    New skills to build

    • Mechanical
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    • Hearing Sensitivity
  • Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

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    Pays about 25% more—$50,412 vs your $40,249 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Trunk Strength
    • Control Precision

    New skills to build

    • Reaction Time
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    • Mathematics
    • Auditory Attention
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  • Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

    Somewhat similar work
    +69% pay60 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 69% more—$67,952 vs your $40,249 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Control Precision

    New skills to build

    • Production and Processing
    • Hearing Sensitivity
    • Mechanical
    • Reaction Time
    • Auditory Attention