Parts Salespersons
Sell spare and replacement parts and equipment in repair shop or parts store.
Also called: Appliance Parts Counter Clerk, Automotive Parts Clerk (Auto Parts Clerk), Automotive Parts Counter Associate (Auto Parts Counter Associate), Automotive Parts Counter Person (Auto Parts Counter Person), Automotive Parts Counterperson (Auto Parts Counterperson), Automotive Parts Handler (Auto Parts Handler)
Median pay
$38,630
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$28,240 – $62,890
People employed
270,070
Holland code
RCE
Realistic · Conventional · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 2.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 3.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 4.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 5.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 6.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 7.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Parts Salespersons pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What parts salespersons do
- 01Receive payment or obtain credit authorization.
- 02Assist customers, such as responding to customer complaints and updating them about back-ordered parts.
- 03Fill customer orders from stock, and place orders when requested items are out of stock.
- 04Receive and fill telephone orders for parts.
- 05Locate and label parts, and maintain inventory of stock.
- 06Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from parts salespersons
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks82% · +17%
- Order Clerks81% · +20%
- Stockers and Order Fillers79% · −3%
- Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers78% · +7%
- Postal Service Clerks74% · +61%
Change into parts salespersons
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers75% · $41,380
- Driver/Sales Workers69% · $38,770
- Demonstrators and Product Promoters66% · $39,320
- Manicurists and Pedicurists63% · $35,760
- Floral Designers60% · $37,360
Majors that lead here
- Selling Skills and Sales Operations
- Vehicle and Vehicle Parts and Accessories Marketing Operations
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.