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Valet parker: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$35,150median pay per year, or $16.90 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $27,040lowest 10% earn less
  2. $29,96025th percentile
  3. $35,150median
  4. $37,67075th percentile
  5. $44,550top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Parking attendants, the BLS category that includes a valet parker, had a median pay of $35,150 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2%[2]
Openings per year
16,400[5]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[6]

How much do valet parkers make?

The median wage for Parking Attendants was $35,150 a year, or $16.90 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was a little lower, at $34,990 a year and $16.82 an hour[7].

For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job sits below the national median for all jobs.

Here is how annual pay was spread out[3]:

Point Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[3][8] $27,040 $13.00
25th percentile[3][8] $29,960 $14.41
Median[1] $35,150 $16.90
75th percentile[3][8] $37,670 $18.11
90th percentile[3][8] $44,550 $21.42

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $27,040[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part-time and full-time. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median annual wage among states, at $43,180[11]. Colorado came next at $39,330, then Oregon at $38,730[11]. Louisiana was at the bottom of the list at $23,920[11].

By metro area, Colorado Springs, CO had the highest median at $47,320, followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $45,030 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $44,480[12]. This list only includes areas with at least 100 jobs[12].

The most jobs were in California (21,290), Florida (17,670), New York (12,440), Texas (12,100) and Illinois (5,320)[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area had the most jobs, at 14,220, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim came second with 11,070[14].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[11]$43,1802,860
Colorado$39,3301,390
Oregon$38,7301,300
Vermont$38,16090
California$38,06021,290
Massachusetts$37,3603,330
District of Columbia$37,2201,900
Illinois$36,7305,320
Alaska$36,58090
New Hampshire$36,010320
New York$35,92012,440
Wyoming$35,780110
North Dakota$35,550170
Minnesota$35,2501,470
Maryland$35,2101,530
New Jersey$35,1005,110
Utah$34,630710
Rhode Island$34,390520
Connecticut$34,3602,240
Arizona$34,2303,130
Delaware$34,230200
South Dakota$34,220240
Hawaii$33,6901,600
Michigan$33,6903,210
Nebraska$32,880460
Idaho$31,990470
Kentucky$31,6301,480
South Carolina$31,4901,300
Indiana$31,3601,930
Wisconsin$31,2701,290
Texas$31,20012,100
Pennsylvania$31,1004,930
Missouri$31,0501,260
Maine$30,860100
Tennessee$30,7802,660
North Carolina$30,5402,930
New Mexico$30,530420
West Virginia$30,460150
Alabama$30,3501,110
Kansas$30,32090
Virginia$30,1101,830
Ohio$30,1003,050
Iowa$30,0701,050
Arkansas$29,890310
Nevada$29,7502,660
Florida$29,65017,670
Georgia$28,9604,660
Oklahoma$27,230870
Montana$27,10060
Mississippi$26,420320
Louisiana$23,9202,130

How to become a valet parker

BLS describes the typical path into this job as short:

In an O*NET survey of 24 workers, 61% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required and 38% said less than a high school diploma[15]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture only.

O*NET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, which means very little to some preparation is needed[16]. Our facts do not say how long the training lasts or whether a license is required.

What valet parkers do

O*NET describes the work as parking vehicles or issuing tickets for customers in a lot or garage, sometimes at a car dealership or rental car facility[17]. Typical tasks include[18]:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of Parking Attendants to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 139,200 to 142,000 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[19]. These counts include self-employed workers[2], who made up 0.9% of the group in 2025[20].

About 16,400 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings come from workers who leave as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 4.1% of workers leave the labor force and 7.3% move to a different occupation[21].

The OEWS count of 137,880 wage and salary jobs[22] and the projection count are different measures, so they do not match exactly.

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job that is easy to enter, since no formal education or related experience is typical[6]. Pay is below the all-occupations median[1][4], and growth is slower than the all-occupations rate[2][19]. Openings are still frequent, with about 16,400 a year[5]. Where you live matters for pay, with medians ranging from $23,920 to $43,180 across states[11]. Our facts do not cover tips, hours or schedules, so ask local employers about those.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a valet parker make an hour?
The median hourly wage for Parking Attendants was $16.90 in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $13.00 and the 90th percentile was $21.42[8].
Do you need a degree to be a valet parker?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement[6].
How long does it take to become a valet parker?
BLS lists short-term on-the-job training[6]. Our facts do not give an exact length.
Is valet parking in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][19]. About 16,400 openings are projected each year[5].
Which state pays valet parkers the most?
Washington had the highest median annual wage, at $43,180[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Parking Attendants in the US was $35,150 per year and $16.90 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Parking Attendants is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 139,200 to 142,000 jobs (a change of +2,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Parking Attendants: 10th percentile $27,040, 25th percentile $29,960, 75th percentile $37,670, 90th percentile $44,550. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 16,400 openings for Parking Attendants are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Parking Attendants: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Parking Attendants was $34,990 per year and $16.82 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Parking Attendants: 10th percentile $13.00, 25th percentile $14.41, 75th percentile $18.11, 90th percentile $21.42. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Parking Attendants in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Parking Attendants (areas with at least 100 jobs): Colorado Springs, CO $47,320; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $45,030; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,480; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $43,790; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $39,480; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $38,620; Sioux Falls, SD-MN $38,520; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $38,480. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Parking Attendants jobs: California 21,290; Florida 17,670; New York 12,440; Texas 12,100; Illinois 5,320. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Parking Attendants jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 14,220 (median $35,920); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 11,070 (median $37,280); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 8,550 (median $29,650); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 5,490 (median $31,770); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 4,450 (median $37,810); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 3,810 (median $28,200). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. O*NET 53-6021.00 survey of workers (24 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 61%, Less than a High School Diploma 38% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  16. O*NET 53-6021.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET description of Parking Attendants. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET task list for Parking Attendants. O*NET OnLine
  19. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  20. BLS Employment Projections: 0.9% of Parking Attendants were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Parking Attendants: 4.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 137,880 people were employed as Parking Attendants in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.