What Parking Attendants do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Parking Attendants this way: "Park vehicles or issue tickets for customers in a parking lot or garage. May park or tend vehicles in environments such as a car dealership or rental car facility. May collect fee."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Take numbered tags from customers, locate vehicles, and deliver vehicles, or provide customers with instructions for locating vehicles"; "Keep parking areas clean and orderly to ensure that space usage is maximized"; "Park and retrieve automobiles for customers in parking lots, storage garages, or new car lots"; "Greet customers and open their car doors"; "Inspect vehicles to detect any damage".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is no formal educational credential. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is short-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Parking Attendants
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 139,200 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 142,000 in 2035, an increase of 2,800 jobs (+2%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 16,400 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 11.8% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $35,150, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Parking Attendants earn the most
Across the 4 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $29,646 in Florida to $38,702 in California, a gap of $9,056 (1.31 times). 2 of those 4 states average above the BLS national median of $35,150 and 2 average at or below it.
California employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 20,660, which is 28.9% of the 71,550 counted across them. New Jersey follows with 18,380.
Highest-paying states
California ($38,702), New York ($35,797) and New Jersey ($35,126) lead the ranking, while Florida ($29,646) and New Jersey ($35,126) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Parking Attendants: pay against the cost of living
We compare 4 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Bergen County, NJ (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ) at -$876. The weakest market is Kings County, NY, where the basics cost $11,266 more than take-home pay.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 0 of the 4 markets and falls short in 4. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 78.3% and 110.6% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Parking Attendants
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (53-6000) include Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants.
Frequently asked questions about Parking Attendants
How much do Parking Attendants earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $35,150. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $29,646 to $38,702.
Which state pays Parking Attendants the most?
California, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $38,702. New York is next at $35,797.
Is Parking Attendants a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to grow by 2% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 16,400 openings a year.
What education do Parking Attendants need?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.
Where can Parking Attendants afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Bergen County, NJ leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: -$876 on a median wage of $35,920.