Mobile Car Detailing evidence: 5 quotes from 2 creators
Every quote, figure and source behind our mobile car detailing guide: 5 quotes from 2 creators, grouped by claim, with the full source list.
Every quote, by claim
Accepted figures: each is backed by the creators quoted under it, verbatim and linked to the moment they said it.
Full-time or part-time: full time capable
“right now, monthly, I'm going to say I'm making roughly $5,000 a month.”
Single reports, not yet confirmed
What one creator said, before a second independent source backs it. Not used as a fact anywhere on the site.
Startup cost
“So, out the door, someone wants to start doing this. How much money do they need? >> Let's say you could start off with 500 bucks.”
Equipment
“I would say pressure washer for sure. Gets the outside clean. It's easier. A vacuum. Vacuum and a pressure washer.”
“into the business by buying a four transit connect mobile detailing van”
Full-time or part-time
“right now, monthly, I'm going to say I'm making roughly $5,000 a month.”
Employee pay in the related job, nationally and by state
BLS figures describe employees in the closest related occupation, not side-hustle income.
| Related occupation | Median pay | Middle 80% | People employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $17.23/hr ($35,830/yr), BLS OEWS, May 2025 | $27,380–$47,610/yr | 380,430 |
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,360 |
| Alaska | $40,210 |
| Arizona | $35,410 |
| Arkansas | $34,970 |
| California | $37,920 |
| Colorado | $39,610 |
| Connecticut | $35,870 |
| Delaware | $37,440 |
| District of Columbia | $42,710 |
| Florida | $33,380 |
| Georgia | $30,610 |
| Hawaii | $37,560 |
| Idaho | $35,640 |
| Illinois | $35,930 |
| Indiana | $34,940 |
| Iowa | $35,920 |
| Kansas | $37,370 |
| Kentucky | $34,470 |
| Louisiana | $27,600 |
| Maine | $37,440 |
| Maryland | $36,390 |
| Massachusetts | $38,630 |
| Michigan | $33,890 |
| Minnesota | $37,580 |
| Mississippi | $28,640 |
| Missouri | $34,670 |
| Montana | $36,510 |
| Nebraska | $37,160 |
| Nevada | $34,230 |
| New Hampshire | $37,420 |
| New Jersey | $37,090 |
| New Mexico | $30,310 |
| New York | $39,390 |
| North Carolina | $33,470 |
| North Dakota | $37,290 |
| Ohio | $35,230 |
| Oklahoma | $30,880 |
| Oregon | $38,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,650 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,890 |
| Rhode Island | $37,340 |
| South Carolina | $34,230 |
| South Dakota | $35,050 |
| Tennessee | $34,950 |
| Texas | $29,450 |
| Utah | $34,900 |
| Vermont | $39,530 |
| Virginia | $34,450 |
| Washington | $40,070 |
| West Virginia | $29,390 |
| Wisconsin | $35,280 |
| Wyoming | $33,890 |
All sources
- Chris Koerner, How To Start a Mobile Detailing Business with $500 (Everything You Need To Know) (YouTube, 3 Oct 2025, at 5:48)
- The Side Hustle Show, 742: $60k/mo Selling Baby Sleep Masks, the $72k “Secret” Detailing Business, $500k in Print on Demand Candles, and more (podcast, 4 Jun 2026, at 7:36)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35.
- O*NET 31.0 Database, 31.0.
All data
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Demand trend | growing | BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 |
| Full-time or part-time | full time capable | Chris Koerner, Oct 2025 |
| Nearest occupation | Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | O*NET 31.0 |
| Median hourly wage, employees: cleaners of vehicles and equipment | $17.23/hr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Median annual wage, employees: cleaners of vehicles and equipment | $35,830/yr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Annual wage, 10th percentile: cleaners of vehicles and equipment | $27,380/yr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Annual wage, 90th percentile: cleaners of vehicles and equipment | $47,610/yr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| People employed: cleaners of vehicles and equipment | 380,430 jobs | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected employment change, 10 years: cleaners of vehicles and equipment | 3.9% | BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 |
| Share self-employed: cleaners of vehicles and equipment | 7.9% | BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 |