How Much Do Pressure Washers Make?

When you hear pressure washing, a service that uses high-pressure water to clean surfaces like driveways, decks, and building exteriors. Also known as power washing, it's not just about spraying water—it's a scalable business that people run from trucks, garages, and even backyards. Many assume it’s just a side hustle, but the truth? A smart operator can clear $100,000 or more a year with just one machine, a truck, and consistent clients.

The money isn’t in the equipment—it’s in the pressure washing business, a service-based enterprise focused on outdoor cleaning for homes and commercial properties. You don’t need a degree, a big office, or a fancy website. You need to know how to price right, show up on time, and deliver results that make people call you back. One job can earn you $150 to $500, depending on size and difficulty. Do five jobs a week, and you’re already making $3,000 to $10,000 a month before expenses.

pressure washing income, the actual take-home earnings from offering pressure washing services varies wildly because so many people undercharge. Some charge $50 to clean a driveway, then wonder why they’re broke. Others charge $250, use better equipment, and get repeat business. The difference isn’t skill—it’s confidence and knowing your worth. Commercial clients like restaurants, property managers, and auto shops pay more because they need reliability, not the cheapest option.

What most don’t tell you? The best earners don’t just wash driveways. They bundle services—clean gutters, remove graffiti, sanitize patios, even prep surfaces for painting. They build lists of regular customers and send out seasonal reminders. A single homeowner might pay $200 in spring and another $180 in fall. That’s $380 from one house, twice a year. Multiply that by 50 homes, and you’ve got $19,000 in recurring revenue before you even chase new jobs.

And it’s not just about the wash. pressure washing profits, the net gain after equipment, fuel, and labor costs are high because the cost of supplies is low. Water? Mostly free. Detergent? A few dollars per job. Your biggest expense is your time—and once you systemize scheduling, invoicing, and customer follow-ups, you’re not working harder, you’re working smarter.

People who make $200,000 a year aren’t working 80-hour weeks. They’ve built teams, hired helpers, and focused on marketing. They run Facebook ads targeting homeowners with dirty driveways. They show before-and-after photos. They get reviews. They turn one job into ten referrals. The machine doesn’t make the money—your strategy does.

You’ll find posts here that break down exactly how much to charge, what equipment you really need, how to land your first client, and why most people fail—not because they can’t clean, but because they don’t know how to sell. Some posts show real pricing formulas. Others reveal how one guy went from cleaning his own driveway to running a six-figure business in under two years. There’s no magic trick. Just clear steps, real numbers, and what actually works when you’re starting from zero.