Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants Salary
The median pay for a automotive and watercraft service attendants in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $35,690/year ($17.16/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $32,779 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 91.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About automotive and watercraft service attendants
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Automotive and watercraft service attendants pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $36K nationwide, a 0% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 90.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for automotive and watercraft service attendants in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $30K | $30K |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $29K | $31K |
| Harrisonburg | $28K | $30K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $30K | $31K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level automotive and watercraft service attendants (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $44K | +22% | 270 |
| California | $42K | +17% | 10,190 |
| District of Columbia | $42K | +17% | N/A |
| Rhode Island | $42K | +17% | 120 |
| Connecticut | $42K | +17% | 420 |
| Alaska | $42K | +17% | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $40K | +12% | 200 |
| Washington | $39K | +11% | 2,620 |
| Montana | $39K | +8% | 460 |
| Vermont | $39K | +8% | 170 |
| Colorado | $38K | +8% | 2,980 |
| Missouri | $38K | +7% | 1,150 |
| Maryland | $38K | +5% | 1,060 |
| Nevada | $38K | +5% | 250 |
| Minnesota | $37K | +5% | 1,230 |
| New York | $37K | +4% | 3,770 |
| Utah | $37K | +4% | 890 |
| North Dakota | $37K | +3% | 500 |
| Wyoming | $37K | +3% | 280 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | +2% | 2,770 |
| Delaware | $37K | +2% | 370 |
| South Dakota | $36K | +1% | 650 |
| Illinois | $36K | +1% | 1,940 |
| South Carolina | $36K | +1% | 220 |
| Arizona | $36K | +0% | 1,710 |
| Indiana | $36K | +0% | 3,090 |
| Massachusetts | $36K | +0% | 1,850 |
| Idaho | $36K | -0% | 480 |
| Kansas | $35K | -1% | 1,500 |
| New Jersey | $35K | -1% | 11,050 |
| Ohio | $35K | -2% | 2,930 |
| Nebraska | $35K | -2% | 910 |
| Florida | $35K | -2% | 5,150 |
| Arkansas | $35K | -3% | 870 |
| Oregon | $34K | -4% | 6,270 |
| North Carolina | $34K | -6% | 2,790 |
| Texas | $34K | -6% | 6,880 |
| Maine | $32K | -9% | 680 |
| Tennessee | $32K | -10% | 2,840 |
| Oklahoma | $32K | -11% | 1,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $32K | -12% | 1,580 |
| Kentucky | $31K | -12% | 1,220 |
| Michigan | $31K | -12% | 3,390 |
| Georgia | $31K | -13% | 4,210 |
| New Mexico | $31K | -13% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $31K | -14% | 350 |
| Iowa | $31K | -14% | 340 |
| Virginia | $30K | -15% | 4,060 |
| Alabama | $29K | -18% | 2,150 |
| Louisiana | $29K | -18% | 1,150 |
| West Virginia | $28K | -21% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track automotive and watercraft service attendants salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a automotive and watercraft service attendant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 90.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for automotive and watercraft service attendants in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new automotive and watercraft service attendants typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,805/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 124% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is automotive and watercraft service attendant a high-paying job in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $36K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for automotive and watercraft service attendants?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $33K — below the national median.
How much do automotive and watercraft service attendants make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $35,690 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,090, and experienced automotive and watercraft service attendants can clear $48,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,471/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 90.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a automotive and watercraft service attendants salary go in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median automotive and watercraft service attendants salary is worth about $32,779 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do automotive and watercraft service attendants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.