Does Pressure Washing Make a Lot of Money? Real Earnings Explained

Pressure washing isn’t just a way to clean driveways and siding-it’s a cash machine for people who know how to run it right. You don’t need a college degree, a big warehouse, or a fleet of trucks. Just a pressure washer, a truck, some nozzles, and the willingness to show up early. And yes, it can make you a lot of money-if you do it the right way.

How Much Do Pressure Washers Actually Earn?

In 2025, a single operator running a small pressure washing business can make between $50,000 and $120,000 a year. That’s not a guess. It’s what owners in Texas, Florida, and Ohio are reporting to trade groups like the Power Washers of North America. Some top earners hit $200,000+ by scaling to two or three crews.

Here’s how it breaks down: A typical residential job-cleaning a house, driveway, and deck-takes about 3 to 4 hours. Most pros charge $200 to $400 per job. That’s $50 to $100 an hour, before expenses. And you’re not doing this alone-you’re not cleaning windows or scrubbing toilets. You’re spraying dirt off concrete with 2,500 PSI of water. It’s fast, it’s physical, and it’s in high demand.

Commercial jobs pay more. A small business parking lot? $600 to $1,200. A multi-unit apartment complex? $1,500 to $3,000. A restaurant patio with grease buildup? $800 to $1,500. These jobs don’t come every day, but they’re the ones that move the needle on your income.

What’s the Real Cost to Start?

You can start with under $3,000. That’s it. A gas-powered pressure washer (like the Simpson PS4240 or Karcher X-Series) runs $800 to $1,200. A used pickup truck with a trailer? $5,000 to $10,000, but you can rent one for $100 a week at first. Hoses, nozzles, detergent, and safety gear? Another $500. Insurance? Around $600 a year. That’s your total startup cost.

Compare that to opening a restaurant ($250,000+), starting a landscaping company ($50,000+), or buying a franchise. Pressure washing has one of the lowest barriers to entry in the cleaning industry. You don’t need a license in most states-just a business registration and a DBA. Some cities require a contractor’s license for commercial work, but residential? Usually not.

Where’s the Demand?

People don’t think about pressure washing until something’s covered in mold, algae, or years of grime. Then they panic. And they’ll pay to fix it.

Spring and fall are busy seasons, but summer is the gold rush. Homeowners are selling houses, landlords are preparing rentals, and HOAs are enforcing curb appeal rules. In Florida, mold grows on siding in 3 weeks. In Ohio, salt residue from winter turns driveways gray. In Arizona, dust builds up like concrete. Every region has its own pressure washing problem-and people are willing to pay to solve it.

Commercial demand is growing too. Restaurants, auto shops, warehouses, and even churches are hiring pressure washers to clean exteriors, loading docks, and walkways. Insurance companies even recommend it to prevent slip-and-fall lawsuits. That’s not a fad. It’s a safety standard.

How to Get Your First Clients

You don’t need to spend thousands on ads. You need to show up where people are looking.

• Door hangers on houses in neighborhoods with old siding or stained driveways. Simple design: “$199 House Wash - Limited Time.”
• Facebook Marketplace. Post before-and-after photos. Tag local groups. “Pressure washing in [Your City]-book now.”
• Nextdoor. Offer a $50 discount for referrals. People trust neighbors more than ads.
• Call property managers. Send a short email: “I clean apartment complexes for $0.08 per sq ft. Here’s how I helped [Nearby Complex] save $1,200 on mold removal.”
• Partner with real estate agents. Offer free driveway cleaning for their listings. They’ll refer you to buyers and sellers.

One guy in Atlanta started with 10 door hangers. Got 3 calls. Did the jobs. Took photos. Posted them. Got 12 more calls the next week. By month three, he was turning away work.

What You’re Really Selling

You’re not selling water. You’re selling peace of mind. You’re selling curb appeal. You’re selling safety. You’re selling the feeling that their home or business looks new again.

People don’t care about PSI ratings or chemical formulas. They care that their driveway isn’t slippery anymore. That their house doesn’t look like it’s covered in dirt. That their tenants aren’t complaining. That their property value went up.

That’s why you charge $350 for a job that takes 3 hours. Because the value you deliver is worth $1,000 to them.

Scaling Beyond One Person

Once you’re doing 15 jobs a week, it’s time to hire.

Pay your crew $20 to $25 an hour plus a $25 bonus per completed job. That’s $1,000 to $1,500 a week per worker. You take 30% to 50% of the job profit. If each crew does 5 jobs a week at $300 average, that’s $1,500 in revenue per crew. You keep $750. After wages, you’re still making $400 profit per crew per week.

With two crews, you’re doing 10 jobs a week. That’s $30,000 a month. $15,000 profit before taxes. That’s not a side hustle. That’s a real business.

Common Mistakes That Kill Profits

Most people fail because they treat pressure washing like a one-man job forever.

• Undercharging. $100 for a house? You’re leaving money on the table. Research local rates. Charge what you’re worth.
• Not tracking expenses. Gas, detergent, truck maintenance-write them down. You need to know your true profit per job.
• Working for free. Don’t do “just one more” for a friend. That’s how you burn out and get stuck in the $30/hour trap.
• Skipping insurance. One slip on a wet deck and you’re facing a lawsuit. General liability insurance is $600 a year. Worth every penny.
• Not using apps. Use Jobber or Housecall Pro to schedule, invoice, and collect payments. No more chasing checks.

Is It Worth It?

Yes-if you treat it like a business.

It’s not glamorous. You wake up at 5 a.m. You get rained on. You haul heavy equipment. You deal with cranky homeowners. But you also get to be your own boss. You get to set your hours. You get to keep every dollar you earn after costs.

There are no middlemen. No corporate pay scales. No boss telling you to take a vacation you can’t afford. If you work hard for 6 months, you can make more than most people do in a year at a 9-to-5 job.

Pressure washing doesn’t make money because it’s easy. It makes money because it’s necessary, repeatable, and scalable. And in 2025, demand is higher than ever.

Next Steps: How to Start Today

Here’s what to do in the next 7 days:

1. Buy or rent a pressure washer. Look for 2,500-3,000 PSI with a gas engine.
2. Get a business license and insurance. Go to your city’s website-most have online forms.
3. Take 5 before-and-after photos of a friend’s driveway or fence. Use your phone.
4. Print 50 door hangers. Use Canva. Say “$199 House Wash - Book This Week.”
5. Post on Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor. Offer a $50 discount for the first 3 bookings.
6. Call 5 property managers. Ask if they need their buildings cleaned.
7. Book your first job. Even if it’s $100. Do it right. Take photos. Ask for a review.

That’s it. You don’t need a website. You don’t need a fancy van. You just need to start.