Parking Lot Attendants park cars for customers in parking lots or garages and return their cars when customers come back.

JOB DUTIES 

Parking Lot Attendants may:

Greet the customer and open car doors

Give the customer a numbered tag and put a similar tag on the windshield

Park the car or direct the customer to a space

Patrol the parking area to prevent thefts

Return the car to the customer after receiving the numbered tag or direct the customer to the car

Collect a parking fee from the customer after calculating charges for the length of time the car is parked or based on a computer's display of the amount due

Clean up the parking area

[back to top]

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

915.473-010 PARKING-LOT ATTENDANTS park cars for customers in parking lots or garages and return their cars when customers come back.

915.583-010 LOT ATTENDANTS working for auto dealerships compare the serial numbers of incoming cars against the invoice; inspect the car for defects, damage, and the presence of accessories listed on the invoice; and park the new cars in the assigned area according to the model.  When the car is sold, they deliver it to the new car preparation department.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following CEscripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Parking Lot Attendants generally work outdoors in all kinds of weather. Some, however, work in indoor parking garages. Attendants are exposed to automobile exhaust fumes. They might be responsible for damage to customers' cars.

Attendants often work long hours; 10-hour days, evenings, weekends, and holidays are not unusual. More than a third of Attendants work part-time, usually during busy morning and evening hours. At peak periods during the year, some overtime may be required.

Parking Lot Attendants wear uniforms, which are usually furnished by their employers. Other Attendants, however, may have to furnish their own uniforms.

Parking Lot Attendants may join a union such as The International Brotherhood or Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen, and Helpers of America or The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. Attendants who belong to unions must pay dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Doing routine and organized work

• Working without supervision

• Working outdoors

You Should Be Able To:

• Show regard and respect for the property of others

• Keep records of claim tickets

• Compute parking charges and make correct change

• Work with many types of people

• Follow instructions

• Repeatedly perform the same work

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

If there are 20 rows of parking spaces and each row fits 20 cars, how many cars can fit in the entire parking lot.

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

A consumer is anyone who buys goods or services for personal use. At one time or another, everyone is a consumer.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

You should be able to write a letter of apology to any customer that you may have upset.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

You should be able to decide the best way to talk to an enraged customer without angering him or her more.

Since this work involves the operation of automobiles, you must have a valid Michigan driver's license. In Michigan , a license may be obtained from an office of the Secretary of State. Applicants must pass a vision test, traffic sign test, written test, and a road test in order to be licensed.

[back to top]

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma or Equivalent may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the CEscript:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 2200 MATH

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this CEscript.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

There are no Postsecondary Programs related to this CEscript.

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this CEscript.

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

There are no Military Programs related to this CEscript.

E-Learning Courses and Programs

[back to top]

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Summer and part-time work will provide experience as a Parking Lot Attendant.

            School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Parking Lot Attendant employer

internships

volunteer work with a Parking Lot Attendant employer

community service work with an agency

To get a job as a Parking Lot Attendant, apply directly to parking lot owners or to the personnel offices of large parking lot companies. Assistance in finding a job may be obtained from a local office of Michigan Works! or by reading newspaper want ads. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

Michigan Careers, Colleges & Training

National Parking Association Classified

Michigan Talent Bank

America's Job Bank

Michigan Works!

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

[back to top]

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Parking Lot Attendants' earnings vary according to employer, size of the lot, geographic location, and time spent on the job.

Nationally, in 2005, most Parking Lot Attendants earned hourly wages from the $5.15 federal minimum wage to $10.00 or more. Exact rates may depend on their experience and on the amount, if any, of their tips. Their median weekly earnings were $378 or $9.45 per hour in 2004.

Parking Lot Attendants (foot persons or outside door persons) that work for large hotels in the Detroit Metropolitan Area earned between $8.55 and $10.73 per hour (excluding tips) in 2005.

Attendants working for government agencies in Michigan in 2005 earned:

Some Parking Lot Attendants receive one and one-half times their hourly rate for work over 40 hours per week.

Depending on their employer, many Parking Lot Attendants receive life, health, and disability insurance; paid vacations; a Christmas bonus; and profit sharing.

Parking Lot Attendants advance after obtaining additional experience and/or training. Steps on a career ladder might include Parking Lot Attendant, parking lot supervisor, and parking lot owner.

[back to top]

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, in 2002, there were about 106,800 Parking Lot Attendants. Employment is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2012. The industry distribution for Parking Lot Attendants looked like this:

Large commercial parking lots in urban areas will provide most of the job opportunities. As the number of cars in the country continues to grow, the demand for parking places will increase. However, the number of additional Parking Lot Attendants needed will be limited because more than 90% of modern parking facilities are expected to be self-parking facilities.

There were approximately 1,900 Parking Lot Attendants working in Michigan . Most Parking Lot Attendants worked in the service industry, with more than half employed in privately-owned parking lots. Others worked for a variety of businesses.

Employment of Parking Lot Attendants in Michigan is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2012. An average of 60 openings is expected annually, with 10 due to growth and 50 due to replacement of those workers who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations. Turnover of part-time employees contributes to the replacement rate. Many of them are students who find other jobs after finishing school. Self-parking facilities with automatic gates could limit the need for Parking Lot Attendants in the future.

MICHIGAN 'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2012

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.

Copyright © 2006 Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth