Pressure Wash Technician Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information on the pressure wash technician job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also highlights the major requirements you may be expected to fulfill to be hired for the pressure wash technician role by most employers/recruiters.

What Does a Pressure Wash Technician Do?

A pressure wash technician operates power washers and other cleaning equipment to remove dirt, mold, grease, dust, and stains from surfaces like buildings, vehicles, concrete infrastructure, and industrial equipment.

Pressure wash techs typically report to a cleaning services manager or small business owner. Experienced technicians may also gain senior titles.

Pressure wash techs clean homes, office buildings, factories, transport vehicles, parking garages, hotels, restaurants, amusement parks, stadiums, and more.

Many are based from a home or office location and travel to worksites.

While a high school diploma or equivalent is sufficient, completion of a pressure wash operator certification can improve professional opportunities.

Hands-on training in equipment use is vital. Some states require business licenses.

The key functions that make up the pressure wash technician job description include consulting with customers on-location about project scopes and advising on suitable cleaning solutions for the surface types involved, moving and properly setting up power washers, hoses, ladders, and other equipment safely at worksites to access areas needing cleaning.

Pressure wash technicians must correctly calibrate water pressure and spray nozzles for the material composition, such as brick, wood, or concrete of surfaces to avoid damage.

Pressure wash technicians must also competently perform preparatory work, such as light digging, bagging and removal of debris, masking windows or landscaping, and establishing drainage routes to control runoff before pressure washing.

They may also provide post-wash maintenance to client surfaces, such as applying protective sealants to porous surfaces like wood and concrete once cleaning is complete.

Proper pressure washing maintains aesthetic appeal of properties, ensures sanitation standards, restores masonry from erosion, and prepares surfaces for new coats of paint or sealant.

Pressure wash technicians also require physical fitness to handle cleaning machinery, attention to safety and planning, competency in assessing appropriate pressure levels and cleaning agents across different materials, to be effective in their work.

In the U.S. pressure wash technicians may need to comply with state contractor license boards for operating certain cleaning equipment or using hazardous chemicals.

Pressure Wash Technician Job Description Example/Sample/Template

The pressure wash technician job description consists of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Consult with customers on-site to inspect surfaces and discuss project scopes, problem areas, and desired outcomes before providing quotes
• Select suitable pressure levels, nozzles, and cleaning solutions depending on surface material, such as wood, brick, concrete, or vinyl to avoid damage
• Set up equipment including power washers, hoses, ladders, caution signs, and drainage control according to safety procedures before starting
• Mask or otherwise protect windows, landscaping, vehicles, or other stationary items near cleaning areas from water spray or debris dispersion
• Clean grounds or work areas of loose debris that could interfere with pressure washing surfaces
• Apply degreasing agents, mold removers, or other preparatory chemical solutions on surfaces where needed allowing enough dwell time before power washing
• Adjust nozzles, pressure levels, spray angles, and soap reservoirs on power washers ensuring safe and optimized settings
• Maneuver spray wands and nozzles methodically across surfaces to lift off layers of dirt, oil, rust stains, mildew and other difficult buildup
• Redirect wastewater drainage where possible using berms, hay bales, or trenches to limit environmental hazards
• Rinse cleaned areas thoroughly to eliminate any remaining debris or chemical residue
• Apply protective treatments like water sealants to exterior wood, brickwork, or other porous surfaces at customer request
• Clean, inspect, and perform routine maintenance on all pressure wash equipment according to manufacturer guidelines before storage
• Photograph project sites before and after work is completed to showcase quality of service delivered
• Generate itemized invoices listing services rendered, equipment fees, supplies, and labor rates for billing approval by customers
• Adhere to all state and local regulations regarding pressure wash containment, disposal of wastewater, or application of chemical cleaning products
• Participate in safety meetings and continuing education to stay current with equipment best practices, environmental codes, and hazards awareness
• Inventory, restock, or procure cleaning solutions, safety gear, spare parts, fuel, and other operational supplies needed for jobs
• Create estimate quotes and schedule new pressure wash jobs via client management software tracking leads and customer data
• Train junior staff members in worksite set up, equipment usage, safety protocols, and washing techniques as needed
• Transport power wash equipment and supplies securely using trucks or trailers moving between storage facilities and job sites.

Pressure Wash Technician Job Description for Resume

If you have worked previously as a pressure wash technician or are currently working in that role and are making a resume or CV, then you can create a compelling Professional Experience section for the resume by applying the sample pressure wash technician job description provided above.

You can highlight the important duties and responsibilities that you have performed or are currently carrying out as a pressure wash technician in your resume’s Professional Experience by utilizing the ones in the pressure wash technician job description example presented above.

This will show to the recruiter/employer that you have been successful performing the pressure wash technician role, which can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your resume and your chances of being hired for the new position that you are seeking, especially if it requires someone with some pressure wash technician work experience.

Pressure Wash Technician Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success

Here are important skills, knowledge, and abilities you need to have to be successful in your job as a pressure wash technician, which most recruiters/employers also commonly require:

• Safety Focus: Keen ability to operate high-pressure water equipment mindful of hazards from falling, spraying water, noxious chemicals, and environmental discharge.
• Physical Stamina: Ability to lift, pull, and maneuver heavy machinery, ladders, and accessories repeatedly in often awkward positions to access cleaning surfaces.
• Technical Aptitude: Skilled at correctly calibrating pressure levels, spray nozzles, hoses, and soap levels to clean different materials without surface damage.
• Troubleshooting: Aptitude to assess cleaning challenges and failures to determine appropriate process adjustments correcting issues. 
• Dexterity: Proficiency working with hand tools, spray wands, control levers/buttons, and performing precise cleaning motions for extended periods.
• Skills, in Spatial Perception: Being able to determine the positions for ladders, equipment, body angles and wand distance to achieve the level of cleaning efficiency.
• Effective Time Management: Planning and progressing through cleaning tasks efficiently while meeting the expectations of clients regarding timeframes.
• Customer Service Excellence: Demonstrating professionalism when consulting with clients to understand their needs explaining service options and ensuring their satisfaction.
• Organizational Skills: Maintaining cleaning equipment, accessories, safety gear and supplies in an easily accessible manner.
• Clear Communication: Providing updates on work progress to management collaborating effectively with team members and accurately documenting service records.
• Problem Solving Abilities: Applying thinking skills to overcome access barriers adapting techniques for challenging buildup situations resolving equipment malfunctions promptly and preventing accidents.

Pressure Wash Technician Salary

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2022 pressure wash technicians typically earned a salary of $47,370 across the United States.

The top 5 highest-paying states for that job were California at $61,530, Washington at $58,730, Oregon at $58,320, Alaska at $57,910, and Massachusetts at $56,500.

Conclusion

Operating specialized high-pressure water equipment, pressure wash technicians fill a crucial niche in property maintenance, infrastructure cleaning, and surface restoration across residential, commercial, and industrial settings.

By thoughtfully harnessing the power of pressurized water sprays, soaps, and cleaning solutions, technicians remove layers of deeply embedded grime and stains to recover aesthetics and function for siding, brickwork, concrete, fleet vehicles and all manner of surfaces and structures.

The role not only demands proper operation of complex wash machinery, but also keen judgment in pressure calibration and cleaning agent selection to avoid surface damage while delivering superior cleaning.

With training in equipment usage, cleaning methodologies, drainage techniques, and safety protocols, pressure techs take on cleaning challenges big and small; lifting years of caked on filth from sidewalks and walls, removing rust and oil from heavy gear, eliminating mold risks for households, and preparing surfaces for new protective finishes.

This document provides a foundation of understanding for the pressure wash technician job description, including the duties, essential knowledge, key skills, average incomes, and employment outlook shaping the pressure wash industry.

Those interested in entering the pressure wash technician career can use the content to better understand role expectations and formulate growth plans, while businesses can apply insights from the provided job description to better recruit for their pressure wash technician needs.