California CareerZone - Service Station Attendants (53-6031.00)

Job Definition: Service automobiles, buses, trucks, boats, and other automotive or marine vehicles with fuel, lubricants, and accessories. Collect payment for services and supplies. May lubricate vehicle, change motor oil, install antifreeze, or replace lights or other accessories, such as windshield wiper blades or fan belts. May repair or replace tires.

Job Zone

Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed

These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some may require a formal training course to obtain a license.

Interests: Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.; Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.; Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Knowledge: Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.; Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.; Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Skills: Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.; Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.; Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.; Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.; Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.; Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.; Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.; Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.; Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.; Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Tasks: Perform minor repairs such as adjusting brakes, replacing spark plugs, and changing engine oil and filters.; Order stock, and price and shelve incoming goods.; Rotate, test, and repair or replace tires.; Sell prepared food, groceries, and related items.; Maintain customer records and follow up periodically with telephone, mail, or personal reminders of service due.; Grease and lubricate vehicles or specified units, such as springs, universal joints, and steering knuckles, using grease guns or spray lubricants.; Sell and install accessories, such as batteries, windshield wiper blades, fan belts, bulbs and headlamps.; Test and charge batteries.; Operate car washes.; Prepare daily reports of fuel, oil, and accessory sales.; Collect cash payments from customers and make change, or charge purchases to customers' credit cards and provide customers with receipts.; Activate fuel pumps and fill fuel tanks of vehicles with gasoline or diesel fuel to specified levels.; Clean parking areas, offices, restrooms, and equipment, and remove trash.; Check air pressure in vehicle tires; and levels of fuel, motor oil, transmission, radiator, battery, and other fluids; and add air, oil, water, or other fluids, as required.; Clean windshields, and/or wash and wax vehicles.

Wages

In 2008, the California average annual wage was $23,230.00.

Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $17,030.00 and $35,760.00.

Outlook: During 2006, there were approximately 8,800 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 10,700 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 190 openings due to growth and about 400 replacement openings for approximately 590 total annual openings. This occupation .

Colleges and Training: There are currently no programs listed for this occupation.

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