Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
In short: today's best AI models could do about 9% of this job's working time (projected from METR's April 2026 measurement and Epoch's November 2026 index) if the work were set up for them, and about the same by the end of 2028 if progress keeps its long-run pace. The conversations, in-person and hands-on work, about 91% of the time, stays with people.
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, refill antifreeze, or replace lights or other accessories, such as windshield wiper blades or fan belts. May repair or replace tires.
102,010 people do this job in the US. $35,670 a year.
Reviewed on September 30, 2026: what each task is made of, and what handing it over would ask.
A typical 40-hour week
- AI could take on4 h
- A person checks AI's work0 h
- Desk work AI can't do yet0 h
- Stays with people36 h
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants, now: of a 40-hour week, AI could take on 4 hours, 0 hours become checking its work, 0 hours are desk work it can't do yet, and 36 hours stay with people.
The largest pieces: Keep customer records and send reminders (about 2 h); Prepare daily sales reports (about 1 h); Order and shelve stock (under an hour).
Estimates for a typical week of this job, if progress keeps its long-run pace, counting work the best models finish four times in five. Every task is below.
of the working time. Now is projected from METR's April 2026 measurement and Epoch's November 2026 index.
- 0%
- 9%
- 3%
- 6%
- 82%
of the work: Anthropic's measure of what people already bring to Claude at work (2025). It counts help with part of a task, so it can be higher than the share within reach.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
Change assumptionsHide assumptionsLong-run pace, four in five
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 2.4 work days long four times in five.
What handing it over would take, now
The 9% within reach splits by what a model would need. The dates, pace and reliability follow the controls above. Estimates.
of the working time. The material can be handed to a model and the result handed back.
of the working time. The model has to be connected to the system the work lives in.
is conversation short enough by length. This site leaves conversation with people, so it is not in the total.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 9%. Today's estimate: 9%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
Measured use over time
Of the Claude.ai conversations Anthropic sampled and tied to a work task, no reportable share went to this job's tasks in May 2026; 0 of its 14 tasks showed up. Within each of Anthropic's methods, never across a change: 0.018% to 0.0099% (released February and March 2025); 0.0079% to 0.015% (August 2025 to February 2026).
Each release
| Conversations | Share | Rank | Tasks seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Released February 2025 | 0.018% | 459 of 708 | 2 of 14 |
| Released March 2025 | 0.0099% | 507 of 703 | 1 of 14 |
| The week of Aug 4, 2025 (released September 2025) | 0.0079% | 480 of 655 | 2 of 14 |
| The week of Nov 13, 2025 (released January 2026) | 0.014% | 435 of 672 | 3 of 14 |
| The week of Feb 5, 2026 (released March 2026) | 0.015% | 437 of 677 | 3 of 14 |
| April 2026 (released June 2026) | none | n/a | 0 of 14 |
| May 2026 (released June 2026) | none | n/a | 0 of 14 |
Measured, not estimated: Anthropic's samples of Claude.ai conversations, each tied by a model to an O*NET task, from the Anthropic Economic Index. It says where Claude's use goes, not how much of this job's working time it covers, so it is not on the same scale as the reach above. The releases differ in their sample, their classifier and the smallest share they report (the June 2026 file rounds each task to a hundredth of a percent, so a smaller task reads as none), which is why a change of method starts a new line. At least 96% of each older release's task-tied use matched this site's tasks, and all of the newest. Claude.ai only, so use through other tools and other companies' models is not in it. Every job ranked.
Robots and the physical work
Anthropic rates 94% of this job's working time as physical work. For 87% of the working time, a robot has been shown doing most of the task somewhere: 16% in a purpose-built cell, 71% in a structured facility. 1.57 of 3, the 16th highest of the 923 jobs.
- Not physical 6%
- No robot shown 7%
- In a purpose-built cell 16%
- In a structured facility 71%
Anthropic's rating, not this site's estimate: Claude Opus 5, searching the web, rated each physical O*NET task by the kind of setting in which a robot it could cite (deployed, sold or demonstrated) does most of the task, weighted by its own estimate of each task's share of the time (What work can robots do?, September 30, 2026, data CC BY 4.0; every job ranked). A robot shown somewhere is not a robot in your building: cost, setup and safety decide that. The share within reach on this page still counts no body work. The robot behind each rated task is under the task below.
What changes for the people in this job
From the task-by-task review, by the end of 2028 on the long-run pace at four in five. It says which parts of the work stay with people and which change, not whether anyone keeps a job: that depends on decisions no data set can see.
What stays with people
91% of the working time: the conversation, in-person and hands-on parts of the tasks.
- Make minor repairs, the hands-on work, 20%
- Sell and fit accessories, the hands-on work, 16%
- Grease and lubricate vehicles, the hands-on work, 13%
- Rotate and repair tires, the hands-on work, 12%
- Clean the premises, the hands-on work, 10%
- Check tires and fluids, the hands-on work, 8%
What becomes checking the machine
No desk work within reach by then in tasks where a mistake costs something. Another 9% is desk work that is small if wrong, which can be handed over with lighter checks.
What to learn
- The hands-on craft. About 82% of the time is hands-on work, which no model here does; robots are rated separately on this page.
- Judgment where errors are severe. Some tasks are severe if wrong. Knowing when not to trust an output matters more there than speed.
- Dealing with people outside the organization. Customers, patients, suppliers or the public: trust with them is built by a person.
Your own version of this job: read it against your job description. The headline is free; the full personal report, every task with its timeline and what to learn, is $19 (a sample).
The tasks
Sorted by . 14 tasks from .
| Task | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perform minor repairs, such as adjusting brakes, replacing spark plugs, or changing engine oil or filters.Brakes adjusted, plugs and oil changed.Done daily by most who do it. Robots: no robot shown. Anthropic's rating. | 20% | 38 min21 min to 1.3 h | Hands-on 100% | Stays with people |
| Sell and install accessories, such as batteries, windshield wiper blades, fan belts, bulbs, or headlamps.Selling at the counter and fitting by hand.Done daily by most who do it. Robots: no robot shown. Anthropic's rating. | 16% | 29 min17 min to 50 min | Hands-on 70%, in person 30% | Stays with people |
| Grease and lubricate vehicles or specified units, such as springs, universal joints, or steering knuckles, using grease guns or spray lubricants.Grease guns on the fittings.Done several times a day by most who do it. Robots: in a purpose-built cell, DOPAG automated greasing production cell (FANUC LRM 200iD/7L robot with shot and spray grease valves) (sold). Anthropic's rating. | 13% | 21 min13 min to 38 min | Hands-on 100% | Stays with people |
| Rotate, test, and repair or replace tires.Tires rotated, tested and replaced.Done several times a day by most who do it. Robots: in a purpose-built cell, RoboTire wheel-changing system (deployed). Anthropic's rating. | 12% | 42 min25 min to 1.3 h | Hands-on 100% | Stays with people |
| Clean parking areas, offices, restrooms, or equipment, and remove trash.Cleaning and trash removal.Done daily by most who do it. Robots: in a structured facility, Ice Cobotics Cobi 18 (deployed). Anthropic's rating. | 10% | 25 min13 min to 50 min | Hands-on 100% | Stays with people |
| Maintain customer records and follow up periodically with telephone, mail, or personal reminders of services due.Records kept and reminders sent by phone and mail.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 8% | 25 min13 min to 50 min | Systems 60%, conversation 40% | 60%Desk part half by now |
| Check tire pressure and levels of fuel, motor oil, transmission, radiator, battery, or other fluids, adding air or fluids as required.Pressure and fluids checked and topped up.Done hourly or more by most who do it. Robots: in a purpose-built cell, Burke E. Porter / Burke Porter Group tire and wheel assembly systems (robotic mounters, multi-telescoping dual-ring inflator) (sold). Anthropic's rating. | 8% | 10 min7 min to 17 min | Hands-on 100% | Stays with people |
| Prepare daily reports of fuel, oil, and accessory sales.Sales entered.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 21 min13 min to 38 min | Systems 100% | 100%Half by now |
| Collect cash payments from customers, and make change or charge purchases to customers' credit cards, providing customers with receipts.Cash and cards taken at the pump or counter.Done hourly or more by most who do it. Robots: in a structured facility, Unitec Portal TI+ / Sentinel car wash pay station (DRB) (deployed). Anthropic's rating. | 3% | 4 min3 min to 7 min | Hands-on 70%, in person 30% | Stays with people |
| Test and charge batteries.Batteries tested and charged.Done more than weekly by most who do it.Robots: in a purpose-built cell, Chroma 17000 Battery Cell Formation Turnkey Solution (sold). Anthropic's rating. | 3% | 21 min8 min to 38 min | Hands-on 100% | Stays with people |
| Order stock, and price and shelve incoming goods.Orders placed, goods priced and shelved.Done more than weekly by most who do it. Robots: in a purpose-built cell, Stretch (Boston Dynamics / DHL Supply Chain) (sold). Anthropic's rating. | 2% | 38 min17 min to 1.7 h | Hands-on 70%, systems 30% | 30%Desk part half by now |
| Clean windshields.Windshields cleaned.Done hourly or more by most who do it.Robots: in a purpose-built cell, PDQ LaserWash 360 / 360 Plus in-bay automatic (deployed). Anthropic's rating. | 2% | 4 min2 min to 8 min | Hands-on 100% | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach. Made of: how the task's time splits among five kinds of doing. Only the documents and systems parts can count as within reach, so a task that is 30% documents can be at most 30% within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics3% now, 3% by 2028
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers29% now, 29% by 2028
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery4% now, 4% by 2028
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment1% now, 1% by 2028
- Home Appliance Repairers16% now, 16% by 2028
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists2% now, 2% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).
Questions about this job
- How much of the work of Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants is within reach of AI now?
- An estimated 9% of the working time is within reach of AI models now and 9% by the end of 2028, on METR's long-run pace at four in five. Within reach means a model could finish work that long at that reliability. It is not a forecast of jobs lost or of savings.
- Which tasks of Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants come within reach first?
- Weighted by the time each takes, the tasks with the most within reach now (projected from METR's April 2026 measurement and Epoch's November 2026 index) are: Keep customer records and send reminders (60% of the task's time now); Prepare daily sales reports (100% of the task's time now); and Order and shelve stock (30% of the task's time now).
- Which tasks of Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants stay with people?
- Tasks that are people work or body work are not counted as within reach at any date. The largest: Make minor repairs; Sell and fit accessories; and Grease and lubricate vehicles. Together such tasks are about 86% of the working time, and the people and body parts of the other tasks stay with people too.
- What should Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants learn as AI takes on more of the work?
- By the job's own task-by-task review, the first things to learn are the hands-on craft; judgment where errors are severe; and dealing with people outside the organization. By the end of 2028 on the long-run pace at four in five, about 91% of the working time stays with people, 0% becomes checking a model's work and 9% could be handed over with lighter checks. It says which parts of the work change, never whether anyone keeps a job.
- Do people already use AI for the work of Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants?
- In the Claude.ai conversations Anthropic sampled for May 2026, no reportable share went to this job's tasks. Anthropic's labor market measure puts the share of the job's tasks seen in real Claude use at work at 0%. These are measures of use, not of how much of the work AI could finish, and they cover Claude only.
- Can robots do the physical work of Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants?
- Anthropic's robot exposure rating (September 2026) finds 94% of the working time is physical work, and that a robot has been shown doing most of the task, somewhere, for 87% of the working time, 71% in a structured facility. Its index is 1.57 of 3. One example: Ice Cobotics Cobi 18 for "clean the premises". A robot shown somewhere is not one in every workplace; this site's own estimates still count no physical work as within reach.
- How is this estimated?
- From the 14 tasks O*NET lists for the occupation, each with an estimated length checked against GDPval and a share of the working time, reviewed one task at a time on September 30, 2026 for what each is made of (documents, business systems, conversation, in person, hands-on), and METR's measurements of how long a task the best AI models can finish, carried forward to the date from the latest, Claude Mythos Preview (early) in April 2026. Data checked November 10, 2026.
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