Salary guide

Parking Attendant Salary & Pay Scale (2026)

What parking attendants earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
How much does a parking attendant make?

The median parking attendant salary in the U.S. is $35,150 per year, or $16.90 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $27,040, while the top 10% earned more than $44,550.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Parking Attendant pay scale

Parking Attendant pay by percentile, May 2025
PercentileAnnualHourly*What it usually reflects
10th percentile$27,040$13.00Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings
25th percentile$29,960$14.40Early career, a year or two of experience
Median (50th)$35,150$16.90Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$37,670$18.11Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers
90th percentile$44,550$21.42Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas

*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.

Monthly and biweekly pay

Pay periodAt 25th percentileAt medianAt 75th percentile
Per year$29,960$35,150$37,670
Per month$2,497$2,929$3,139
Every two weeks$1,152$1,352$1,449
Per week$576$676$724

Gross pay before taxes and deductions.

What affects parking attendant pay

  • Licenses and endorsements (CDL Class A, hazmat, tanker)
  • Overtime and peak-season premium pay
  • Long-haul versus local routes
  • Equipment certifications and safety record
  • Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median

How to earn more as a parking attendant

  1. Get credentialed: Valid driver’s license, Clean driving record, Manual transmission skills.
  2. Build specialty experience: Lead.
  3. Move up: roles such as lot manager and parking operations manager typically pay more.
  4. Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.

Parking Attendant pay vs. related careers

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of parking attendants to change by +2.0% from 2025–35, slower than average compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 16,400 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.

About this data

Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 53-6021 (“Parking attendants”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.

Parking Attendant salary FAQ

How much does a parking attendant make per hour?

The median hourly wage for parking attendants was $16.90 in May 2025 (BLS). Hourly pay for the lowest 10% was about $13.00 and the top 10% earned about $21.42 or more.

How much does a parking attendant make a month?

At the median annual wage of $35,150, that works out to about $2,929 per month before taxes, or about $1,352 every two weeks.

What is the starting salary for a parking attendant?

New parking attendants often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $27,040 and the 25th percentile was $29,960 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.

How can parking attendants earn more?

Common ways include earning Valid driver’s license and Clean driving record, gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as lot manager.

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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