Parking Lot Attendants

Career summary

#No alternate titles CJ

Parking lot attendants work in garages and parking lots where customers leave their cars. They place numbered tags in cars and issue similar tags to customers. They park cars and retrieve them when customers return. Attendants may direct customers where to park their cars.

Parking lot attendants collect fees from customers based on charges for parking time. Many attendants use machines to compute time and charges. Customers in these lots often find their own cars and pay attendants as they leave.

Parking lot attendants may patrol the area to prevent theft or damage to cars. They may lift or place barricades to close off filled parking areas, and remove them as customers leave.

Attendants who work for car dealerships are responsible for keeping car lots in order. They also park cars on the lot to maximize the use of space.

Attendants who work for storage garages inspect cars and other vehicles for damage. They service vehicles to protect tires and paint finish from damage. They may also supply cars with gas, oil, and water.

Related careers

This career is part of the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Baggage Porters and Bellhops
• Cashiers
• Counter Attendants
• Couriers and Messengers
• Meter Readers
• Parking Enforcement Officers
• Security Guards
• Service Station Attendants
• Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs
• Ushers and Ticket Takers
• Vehicle Cleaners

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to parking lot attendants.

• Park car in parking lot, storage garage, or new car lot.
• Greet customers and help them out of their cars.
• Place numbered tag on car windshield and give similar tag to customer.
• Collect parking fee from customer. Calculate charges for parking time.
• Take numbered tag from customer and locate car. Deliver car to customer or direct customer to parked car.
• Keep new car lot in order and park cars to maximize use of space.
• Place or remove barricade to open or close parking areas.
• Inspect vehicles to detect damage.
• Direct customer or other driver to parking area. Use hands or flashlight to give directions.
• Patrol area to prevent thefts of parked cars or items in cars.
• Check identity of customer before allowing them to enter parking area.
• Walk customer to their car for safety.
• Service cars in storage.

Common work activities

Parking lot attendants perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Perform for or work with the public
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Get information needed to do the job
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Document and record information
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Handle and move objects
• Make decisions and solve problems

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, parking lot attendants:

Interpersonal relationships

• Always deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals. Customers may be upset about charges, theft, or service.
• Have a high level of social contact. They are constantly working with customers.
• Often are placed in conflict situations. They may have to deal with customers who do not agree with parking fees.
• Are responsible for work outcomes.
• Are responsible for customers' safety. They may walk customers to their cars for protection.
• Sometimes deal with physical aggression of violent individuals.
• Communicate with customers weekly by telephone or in person.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Often work outdoors, but under a roof. They may on rare occasions work indoors.
• Work very near coworkers. They often share work space with others.
• Are exposed to contaminants on a weekly basis, such as fumes from gasoline.
• Work in a closed vehicle most of the time. They may deliver the car to the customer.
• Often are exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures. This depends on the weather.
• Are exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable on a weekly basis. Many attendants work in areas with a lot of traffic.

Work performance

• Must be sure that their work is exact. Errors could cause customers to be dissatisfied.
• Repeat the same tasks over and over, such as collecting customer payments.
• Often make decisions that affect customers. They rarely consult a supervisor before making decisions.
• Are able to set some tasks for the day without consulting a supervisor.
• Are moderately competitive. They may compete with other lots by trying to attract the most customers.
• Must sometimes meet strict deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Generally do not have a set schedule. Their schedules change when parking is in high demand, such as during holidays and special events.
• Work less than 40 hours a week.
• May work days, nights, or weekends.

Physical demands

Parking lot attendants frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Walk or run for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Bend or twist their body.
• Stand for long periods of time.
• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for parking lot attendants to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for parking lot attendants to be able to:

• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• See objects in very low light.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.

Skills and abilities

Parking lot attendants need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.

Perceive and visualize

• Know one's location in a physical setting and recognize where other objects are located in relation to oneself.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study to consider

• Truck and Bus Driving

Training

To work as a parking lot attendant, you typically need to:

• complete short-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required for this job. However, many employers prefer that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

On-the-job training

Parking lot attendants learn their skills on the job from experienced workers. Training lasts a few hours. Attendants who park cars may receive special training.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers may prefer applicants who have a high school diploma or equivalent. They may also prefer to hire those who are at least 18 years old. Most employers look for reliable workers who will be courteous to customers. Employers may also check applicants' driving record.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Parking Lot Attendants 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Wages vary by employer and area of the country.

Benefits also vary by employer. Full-time parking lot attendants may receive benefits such as health insurance, paid vacation, and sick leave. Part-time attendants usually do not receive benefits.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Automobile parking lots and garages
• Auto rental companies
• Auto dealerships

National outlook

The demand for parking lot attendants is expected to show little to no change. Despite the increasing number of cars on the road, new technologies will limit growth. Improved card readers or other methods for determining which cars can freely enter or exit a lot have reduced the need for attendants.

Despite the slow growth in jobs, this is a large occupation and many openings will occur as current workers leave the occupation.

Other resources

References

Career cluster

• Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupation

• Parking Lot Attendants (53-6021.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Lot Attendant (915.583-010) 
• Parking Lot Signaler (915.667-014) 
• Parking-lot Attendant (915.473-010) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Realistic/Conventional/Enterprising

COPSystem

• Service Skilled