What is the salary and career path for a automotive parts advisor?
Automotive parts advisor reports under the broad Parts Salespersons code (SOC 41-2022), which BLS uses for anyone selling spare and replacement parts, so the OEWS May 2025 median is $38,630 a year ($18.57 an hour), from $28,240 at the 10th percentile to $62,890 at the 90th. Dealership advisors lean on OEM catalogs and the DMS, and wholesale volume lifts the strongest performers. BLS projects 3.1% growth over 2024β2034, about average, with roughly 30,200 openings a year. No license is required; the dealership hires for OEM catalog fluency, DMS speed and service-drive support, with manufacturer parts certifications marking advancement.
- Automotive Parts Advisors earn a national median $38,630/yr ($18.57/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 41-2022); the top 10% clear $62,890.
- No license is required; dealerships hire for OEM catalog fluency, DMS speed and service-drive support.
- BLS projects 3.1% growth for 2024β34 across the parts-salesperson code, about average, with roughly 30,200 openings a year.
- The ladder runs from dealership parts trainee through advisor and wholesale specialist to parts manager near $62,890.
Career Path
How do you become an automotive parts advisor?
Dealership Parts Trainee
Stocks OEM parts and learns the DMS under supervision; pay near the BLS 10th percentile.
Automotive Parts Advisor
Supplies the service drive and retail counter from the OEM catalog β around the $38,630 median plus spiff.
Wholesale Parts Specialist
Manages collision and fleet wholesale accounts; earnings near the 75th percentile with commission.
Dealership Parts Manager
Runs OEM inventory, obsolescence and department gross; top-decile pay near the 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays automotive parts advisors the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 41-2022. National median: $38,630. Full salary guide β
Pay Comparison
How does automotive parts advisor pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles automotive parts advisors most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: automotive parts advisors rank 4 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +3.1% employment change 2024β34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly automotive parts advisors clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 41-2022 (automotive parts advisors) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024β34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential β not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months β our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do automotive parts advisors need?
Manufacturer program certifying dealership catalog, warranty and product knowledge for the brand. See all state licences β
Competence in the dealership management system's parts, invoicing and inventory modules.
Brand training on part applications, supersession and warranty-parts handling.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do automotive parts advisors use on the job?
βοΈ Core Tools & Equipment
π BLS Employment Data, SOC 41-2022
Salary Levers
How do automotive parts advisors earn above the $38,630 BLS median?
Wholesale account volume
Building collision and fleet wholesale accounts moves pay from the $38,630 median toward the $62,890 top decile.
Service-drive commission and spiffs
Fast, accurate ticket fills and parts spiffs lift earnings above the $28,240 entry tier.
Advancement to parts manager
Running OEM inventory and department gross reaches toward the $62,890 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming an automotive parts advisor worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 41-2022. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Automotive Parts Advisor Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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