Free Guide to Job Opportunities at Hertz

Why Hertz Remains a Gateway to Entry-Level Transportation Jobs

Hertz has operated as one of North America's largest car rental companies for over a century, maintaining a significant presence across the continent. While the company filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and underwent restructuring, it has continued operations and rehiring across many of its locations. Understanding the current landscape of Hertz employment requires recognizing both the company's scale and the types of roles it typically fills.

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The company operates roughly 10,000 vehicles at peak capacity and maintains locations in major airports, city centers, and suburban areas throughout the United States and Canada. This geographic spread means job openings vary significantly by region. Some locations operate as full-service rental facilities with ten or more staff members, while others function as smaller kiosks with minimal staffing. The restructuring that occurred in recent years has actually created ongoing hiring needs as locations rebuild their teams and adjust staffing models.

Entry-level positions at Hertz represent real employment opportunities for people seeking work in customer service, operations, and logistics. Unlike seasonal-only positions at some retailers, Hertz maintains year-round operations, though demand patterns follow travel trends—typically busier during summer months and holidays. For someone without prior work experience or looking to transition careers, Hertz positions offer structure, training, and exposure to business operations that extend beyond basic retail or food service roles.

The rental car industry itself provides less obvious career pathways than many realize. Beyond counter and cleaning staff, Hertz locations employ vehicle logistics coordinators, fuel attendants, lot technicians, and inventory specialists. These roles build practical skills in fleet management, vehicle maintenance coordination, and logistics workflow—skills valued across transportation and logistics sectors. Many people use entry-level Hertz work as a stepping stone to positions at larger transportation companies, corporate fleet management, or specialized vehicle services.

Practical takeaway: Research Hertz locations near you before exploring specific job openings. Note whether they're airport locations, city center facilities, or neighborhood branches—each operates differently and may have distinct staffing needs.

The Range of Positions Available at Hertz Locations

Hertz positions fall into distinct categories based on location type and operational needs. Understanding these categories helps you identify which roles match your skills and availability. The company doesn't use identical job titles across all locations, so knowing the actual work involved matters more than memorizing specific position names.

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Rental counter associates represent the most visible Hertz role. These employees interact with customers during the rental and return process, handle payment processing, explain vehicle features, and answer questions about rental terms. Counter work requires strong communication skills, ability to work with point-of-sale systems, and comfort handling financial transactions. Hours vary by location—airport locations often operate 24/7 or extended hours, while neighborhood branches typically operate standard business hours. Counter positions typically offer the most customer interaction and may involve up-selling insurance packages or vehicle upgrades, which factors into compensation structures at some locations.

Customer service representatives handle phone and email inquiries. These roles are less visible but comprise significant staffing at regional call centers and major hub locations. Customer service work involves explaining policies, processing modifications to reservations, troubleshooting billing issues, and addressing complaints. This work is entirely phone or computer-based and typically operates from dedicated facilities rather than rental counters. Evening and weekend shifts are common since customers call with issues outside standard business hours.

Lot attendants and vehicle service associates handle the physical operations—cleaning vehicles, checking fuel levels, inspecting for damage, moving vehicles within the lot, and preparing cars for new rentals. This role involves manual labor and outdoor work in varying weather conditions. Lot work typically requires no prior experience and provides steady full-time hours. Some locations distinguish between vehicle cleaners and lot technicians, where technicians perform basic maintenance checks, tire pressure verification, and mechanical inspections beyond basic cleaning.

Shuttle drivers operate the vehicles that transport customers from airport terminals to rental lots or between facilities. This role requires a valid driver's license and clean driving record. Shuttle work often provides consistent hours with predictable schedules, though it's physically demanding and involves early mornings or late evenings at many airport locations.

Fleet and inventory coordinators manage vehicle allocation, track inventory systems, and coordinate vehicle movements between locations. These positions sit between frontline staff and management and typically require organizational skills and computer proficiency. Coordinators work more office-based hours and often represent an advancement opportunity for experienced lot or counter staff.

Practical takeaway: Visit a nearby Hertz location in person and observe the different roles—counter staff, lot workers, cleaners. This observation clarifies which environment and tasks appeal to you before seeking positions.

Where to Find Current Hertz Job Openings and Location Information

Locating actual Hertz job openings requires knowing where the company posts positions. Unlike some national retailers with centralized job boards, Hertz maintains a somewhat decentralized hiring process with both national openings and location-specific hiring managed at different levels.

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The primary resource is Hertz's official careers website, accessible through their main corporate site. This site lists openings by job category and location, typically allowing you to search by ZIP code or city. The listings here range from corporate headquarters positions to specific airport and neighborhood location roles. Response times vary—some locations fill positions within days of posting, while others may keep postings active for weeks. The careers page also provides general information about Hertz as an employer, benefits offerings, and company background.

Major job boards including Indeed, LinkedIn Jobs, and ZipRecruiter regularly aggregate Hertz postings from multiple sources. Searching "Hertz rental" on these platforms often yields results faster than visiting the official site, and you can set up email alerts for new postings matching your criteria. These platforms sometimes include reviews from current or former Hertz employees, providing additional perspective on specific locations or roles.

Location-specific approaches work particularly well for Hertz because individual branches or airport facilities sometimes hire directly without posting to national boards. Calling or visiting specific locations you'd like to work at and asking about current or upcoming openings generates direct conversations with managers. Some locations prefer this approach and may ask you to complete an application or speak with the assistant manager on the spot. This direct method works especially well at smaller neighborhood locations.

Staffing agencies and temp services maintain relationships with Hertz in many cities. These agencies sometimes fill positions before they appear on public job boards, so registering with local staffing agencies and noting Hertz as a company of interest can surface opportunities. Temp-to-permanent roles are common in the rental car industry, allowing you to demonstrate reliability before transitioning to permanent status.

State workforce development agencies and local job training programs sometimes coordinate directly with Hertz for bulk hiring, particularly when locations are opening or significantly expanding. If you're working with an employment counselor through a state program, they may have information about Hertz hiring events or partnership opportunities in your area.

Practical takeaway: Combine multiple search methods rather than relying on one source. Set up job alerts on Indeed and LinkedIn while also checking Hertz's official site monthly and calling two to three locations you'd realistically commute to. This creates multiple pathways to discover openings.

Understanding Hertz Pay, Hours, and Work Conditions

Compensation at Hertz varies significantly based on position, location, and local labor market conditions. Entry-level counter and lot positions typically start at minimum wage to $1-3 above minimum wage depending on the state and specific location. Major metropolitan areas and busy airport locations generally pay higher rates than smaller cities or neighborhood branches. As of 2024, entry-level positions at many urban Hertz locations range from $15-17 per hour, though this fluctuates with regional cost-of-living and local minimum wage laws.

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Some positions include commission or bonus structures beyond hourly wages. Counter associates at several locations earn additional money based on insurance package sales, vehicle upgrades, or meeting rental targets. This commission structure means earning potential varies month to month and depends partially on factors outside your control, such as overall rental demand and customer mix during your shifts. Understanding whether a specific position includes commission components matters when comparing offers from different locations.

Benefits offerings differ between full-time and part-time status. Full-time positions (typically 35+ hours weekly) may include health insurance, dental coverage, vision insurance, and retirement plan access, though details vary by location and current company policy. Part-time employees often receive more limited benefits, though some locations extend certain benefits like employee vehicle rental discounts to all staff. Paid time off policies have shifted since the company's restructuring, so current benefits