How to become a Parts Salesperson
Official title: Parts Salespersons
Also called: Parts Advisor, Parts Consultant, Parts Counter Salesperson, Parts Counterman, Parts Counterperson, Parts Person, Parts Salesman, Parts Salesperson, Parts Specialist, Wholesale Parts Salesperson
Sell spare and replacement parts and equipment in repair shop or parts store.
Main tasks
- Receive payment or obtain credit authorization.
- Assist customers, such as responding to customer complaints and updating them about back-ordered parts.
- Fill customer orders from stock, and place orders when requested items are out of stock.
- Receive and fill telephone orders for parts.
- Locate and label parts, and maintain inventory of stock.
- Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.
- Read catalogs, microfiche viewers, or computer displays to determine replacement part stock numbers and prices.
- Determine replacement parts required, according to inspections of old parts, customer requests, or customers' descriptions of malfunctions.
How to become one
Retail sales workers typically do not need formal education to enter the occupation. However, some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Most retail sales workers learn on the job.
Typical education to start: No formal educational credential
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Salesperson Parts.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $38,630 a year The middle half earn $33,110 to $49,850.
- About 273,300 people work in this job now, and about 281,600 are projected by 2035. (+3%)
- People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Related jobs
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a Parts Salesperson?
Retail sales workers typically do not need formal education to enter the occupation. However, some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Most retail sales workers learn on the job.
How much does a Parts Salesperson earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $38,630 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $33,110 to $49,850.
Is a Parts Salesperson a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 273,300 to about 281,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Parts Salesperson?
Usually not. Only 9% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Salesperson Parts.
Will AI change the work of a Parts Salesperson?
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.