Vehicle Wash Crew -- Reliable, Fast, Detail-Focused

Read this before you apply

This is hard, physical, outdoor work — and it pays well if you're built for it. We're not looking for the most people; we're looking for the right few. If you're reliable, you show up on time every scheduled day, and you take pride in doing a job right and fast, keep reading. If unpredictable, physical, weather-exposed work isn't for you, this isn't the job — and that's okay.

Our #1 requirement is simple: you show up, on time, every scheduled shift.

What the work actually is:

We pressure wash dealership inventory and some commercial/residential jobs. Most of our work is not "washing" in the traditional sense — it's a fast, precise technique: spraying a vehicle down and then using a chamois to strip the water and dust off so it's clean and spot-free.

Speed and quality both matter. You'll:

• Spray down and chamois-dry vehicles at a steady, efficient pace for a full shift
• Operate and maintain high-volume pressure-washing equipment
• Keep quality high with minimal supervision — no missed spots, no rushed, sloppy work
• Refill tanks and stage your work efficiently (technique = higher earnings)
• Work outdoors in heat, cold, wind, and changing conditions
• Communicate on-site to meet each customer's requirements

The honest truth about the physical demand:

You will be on your feet and moving for up to 8 hours. You'll either be holding a high-volume pressure-washing gun for long stretches or working a chamois across vehicle after vehicle all day. This takes real stamina, grip strength, and focus. Most people who try this job struggle with the pace, not the skill. If you know you can keep up physically, you'll do great here.

Pay — straight talk, no gimmicks

This is piecework — you're paid per vehicle, so your speed and technique set your earnings. Here's the honest range so there are no surprises:

• While you're learning: most new crew members earn roughly $15–$18/hour equivalent.
• Our standard pace (what we schedule around): about $20/hour equivalent.
• Once you master the technique (efficient spraying, chamois work, refilling tanks while you go): $25/hour equivalent or more.
• New hires start with a paid training week and a paid working tryout so you're earning while you learn.
• State law floor: for any shift you clock in, if piecework comes in under Albuquerque minimum wage, you're paid at least minimum wage for hours worked.

Plus real retention bonuses on top of piece pay — reliability pays here. Show up dependably and do quality work, and you earn $300 at 30 days, $400 at 60 days, and $800 when you hit 90 days, plus another $500 at six months — $2,000 in bonuses for sticking with us. Once you pass 90 days you also unlock an ongoing bonus of 10% of your pay every pay period you stay reliable — rising to 15% after 18 months. We invest in the people who invest their time with us.

Schedule & weather

We run a set schedule that shifts with the season — evenings/nights in the summer (to beat the heat) and daytime in the winter. Because we work outdoors, weather affects the day: rain or high wind can push a start time later ("rain delay") or mean a longer make-up shift another day to finish the work. We need people who can stay flexible when the weather moves the schedule and still commit to getting the work done.

What we're looking for (in order)

1. Reliability. You show up, on time, every scheduled shift, and you communicate early if something ever comes up.
2. Physical stamina. You can sustain the pace for a full shift without burning out.
3. Quality + speed. You take pride in a spot-free result and you work efficiently.
4. A good attitude with weather changes, ambiguity, and independent work.

Requirements

• Reliable transportation to arrive on time for every scheduled shift
• Valid driver's license
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions
• Physically able to lift equipment and stay on your feet, moving, for up to 8 hours
• Availability for evening/night shifts in summer and daytime in winter, plus some flexibility for weather-related schedule changes
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Previous pressure-washing/detail experience is a plus, not required — technique can be taught; reliability and stamina can't

How hiring works

We take hiring seriously because we invest in the people we keep. The process is: a short interview, then a paid working tryout (you get paid to show us you can do the work), followed by a 1–2 week paid probation with clear checkpoints. Prove you're reliable and can keep up, and you've got a solid spot on a growing team with room to grow into lead and training roles.

If you take pride in showing up and doing it right — apply today.

Forthright Auto is a growing business with established departments in Preowned Vehicle Sales, Auto Repair, and Auto Detailing. We serve a wide range of clients across all our businesses, from individual consumers, to municipal and commercial fleets. We strive to provide a fair, honest, and straightforward experience to both our clients and employees. The wide range of automotive services we provide not only ensures we can help our clients with whatever their automotive needs might be, but also provides multiple opportunities for our staff to grow their careers within the automotive industry.