Service Station Attendants
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Service Station Attendants sell fuel, lubricants and other automotive accessories, and perform minor maintenance on motor vehicles at service stations.
Also known as: Driveway Attendant.
Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Service Station Attendant.
Tasks
-
filling fuel tanks and containers to level specified by customer
-
checking and replenishing air pressure in vehicle tyres, and oil and other vehicle fluid levels
-
washing vehicle windscreens and windows
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performing minor repair work to vehicles such as replacing tyres, light bulbs and windscreen wiper blades
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maintaining and operating automatic car wash facilities
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collecting payments from customers for purchases
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cleaning petrol pumps and surrounding driveway, shop and facilities
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undertaking stock control and preparing reports on fuel, oil, accessories and other items sold
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replenishing stock of fast foods, newspapers, magazines and grocery items
Characteristics
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Informal or on-the-job
-
Practical
-
Administrative
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Sedentary
-
Light
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:
- is expected to decline
- is likely to reach 10,600 by 2026.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 9,300 |
2012 | 11,100 |
2013 | 12,000 |
2014 | 7,500 |
2015 | 14,100 |
2016 | 10,900 |
2017 | 13,600 |
2018 | 10,300 |
2019 | 16,200 |
2020 | 12,700 |
2021 | 11,300 |
2026 | 10,600 |
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 30% of people employed as Service Station Attendants work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 36 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 42 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
-
Most Service Station Attendants work in the Retail trade industry.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Service Station Attendants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 29.3 | 31.6 |
VIC | 20.9 | 25.6 |
QLD | 22.9 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.9 | 7.0 |
WA | 12.2 | 10.8 |
TAS | 3.5 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.1 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.1 | 1.9 |
-
Around 54% of Service Station Attendants live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
-
The median age of Service Station Attendants is 32 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 47% of the workforce. This is similar to the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Service Station Attendants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 10.4 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 18.4 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 28.3 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 15.8 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 13.9 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 6.0 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 4.4 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.9 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 32 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Service Station Attendant.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Service Station Attendants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 8.5 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 12.4 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 7.4 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 12.8 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 29.4 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 7.9 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 21.6 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Service Station Attendants who are well presented and provide good customer service.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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43%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
-
41%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
41%
RepairingFixing machines or systems.
-
39%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
37%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
37%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
-
36%
Equipment maintenanceMaintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
-
36%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
-
36%
SpeakingTalking to others.
-
34%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
34%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
34%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
-
32%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
32%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
-
32%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
32%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
30%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
30%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
30%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
-
29%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
71%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
64%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
59%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
58%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
55%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
50%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
48%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
45%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
43%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
40%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
39%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
36%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
36%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
35%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
34%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
32%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
27%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
27%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
-
23%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
-
20%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
55%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
-
48%
Extent flexibilityBend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
46%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
45%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
-
45%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
45%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
-
45%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
43%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
43%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
43%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
-
43%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
43%
StaminaExercise for a long time without getting winded or out of breath.
-
43%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
-
43%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
41%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
-
41%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
-
41%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
39%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
36%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
36%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
66%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
64%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
63%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
62%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
-
58%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
56%
Driving vehicles or equipmentRunning, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
54%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
53%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
53%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
52%
Working with mechanical equipmentServicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
-
51%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
48%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
47%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
45%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
45%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
43%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
43%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
43%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
41%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
40%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
100%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
67%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
48%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
33%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
33%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
67%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
48%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
43%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
31%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
24%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
24%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
-
99%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
97%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
95%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
94%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
92%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
92%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
-
91%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
91%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
90%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
90%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
90%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
89%
Dangerous equipmentWork near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
-
89%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
-
88%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
88%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
83%
Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stingsBe exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
-
83%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
81%
Walking and runningSpend time walking and running.
-
80%
Indoors, not heat controlledWork indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
80%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 53-6031.00 - Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
-
Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.