SOC 41-2022.00

    Parts Salespersons

    Sell spare and replacement parts and equipment in repair shop or parts store.

    Median pay
    $38,630
    Growth
    +3.0%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    30,000
    Typical education
    No formal credential

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $28,240
    Median
    $38,630
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $62,890
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    270,070 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Parts salespersons sell spare and replacement parts in retail stores and repair shops. They earn a median annual pay of $38,630, with opportunities available nationwide in automotive, appliance, and electronic parts sales.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What parts salespersons do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    Sell spare and replacement parts and equipment in repair shop or parts store.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    Parts salespersons assist customers in finding the exact components they need for repairs and maintenance. On a daily basis, they work directly with the public, gathering information about their equipment needs, solving problems, and using computers to look up inventory. This role requires strong active listening, speaking, and persuasion skills to guide buyers toward the right purchases.

    Because this is a realistic and service-oriented career, workers must be dependable, cooperative, and detail-oriented. They handle administrative tasks, document transactions, and maintain relationships with both regular clients and coworkers. Success in this job relies on a solid understanding of customer service, sales techniques, and basic computer systems.

    How to get there

    Entering this field typically does not require a formal college credential, though most workers hold at least a high school diploma. New hires generally receive some on-the-job training or have prior retail experience. Students interested in this career path often study majors such as general sales, specialized sales, or merchandising and marketing operations.

    While not always mandatory, some states list specific licensing requirements for this work. Additionally, professionals can pursue voluntary credentials to show their expertise, such as the NAFA Certified Air Filter Specialist designation from the National Air Filtration Association.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for parts salespersons is $38,630. Earnings can vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $28,240 and the highest 10% earning more than $62,890.

    There are 270,070 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 3%, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. Job seekers can expect about 30,000 openings each year to replace workers who retire or transfer to other fields.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    77 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    10 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    16 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    47 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    69 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCE. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Working with Computers
    87
    Getting Information
    84
    Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    83
    Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
    82
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    81
    Documenting/Recording Information
    75
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    74
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    73
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    73
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    71
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Speaking
    • Persuasion
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Service Orientation
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Critical Thinking
    • Monitoring
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Time Management

    Knowledge

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Administration and Management
    • Administrative
    • Computers and Electronics
    • English Language
    • Economics and Accounting
    • Production and Processing
    • Personnel and Human Resources
    • Mathematics

    Abilities

    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Near Vision
    • Speech Recognition
    • Written Comprehension
    • Speech Clarity
    • Information Ordering
    • Written Expression
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Problem Sensitivity

    Work styles

    • Dependability
    • Social Orientation
    • Attention to Detail
    • Cooperation
    • Integrity
    • Perseverance
    • Self-Confidence
    • Empathy
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Optimism

    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) · Automotive Parts Salesperson (Auto Parts Salesperson) · Automotive Parts Specialist (Auto Parts Specialist) · Commercial Parts Professional · Electronic Parts Salesperson

    Career pathway

    From your interests to parts salespersons

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Parts Salespersons$38,630 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Baylor University logo
      Baylor University

      Waco, TX · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $85,374
      4 yrs after
      $125,167
      Median debt
      $21,375
    2. 2Texas A & M University-College Station logo
      Texas A & M University-College Station

      College Station, TX · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $72,444
      4 yrs after
      $93,141
      Median debt
      $18,458
    3. 3
      Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

      Bowling Green, OH · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $63,510
      4 yrs after
      $86,245
      Median debt
      $22,625
    4. 4Weber State University logo
      Weber State University

      Ogden, UT · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $73,639
      4 yrs after
      $82,549
      Median debt
      $15,668
    5. 5Purdue University-Main Campus logo
      Purdue University-Main Campus

      West Lafayette, IN · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $66,112
      4 yrs after
      $82,441
      Median debt
      $19,043
    6. 6University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus logo
      University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus

      Madison, WI · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $58,551
      4 yrs after
      $82,081
      Median debt
      $14,567
    7. 7Saint Joseph's University logo
      Saint Joseph's University

      Philadelphia, PA · Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $62,952
      4 yrs after
      $80,764
      Median debt
      $24,335
    8. 8Kennesaw State University logo
      Kennesaw State University

      Kennesaw, GA · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $77,431
      4 yrs after
      $79,147
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What parts salespersons may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Selling Skills and Sales Operations
    • Vehicle and Vehicle Parts and Accessories Marketing Operations

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    1 state lists a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about parts salespersons

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common job titles for this career?

    People in this field are often called automotive parts counterpersons, appliance parts counter clerks, commercial parts professionals, or electronic parts salespersons.

    What is the projected job growth for parts salespersons?

    Employment is expected to grow by 3% from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth will result in approximately 30,000 job openings each year.

    Do I need a college degree to become a parts salesperson?

    No, there is typically no formal educational credential required to enter this career. Most workers have a high school diploma and learn through on-the-job training.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.