Parts Salespersons: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Parts Salespersons fall under the Sales and Related category in the U.S. occupational classification. Parts Salespersons earn a median salary of $37,440 per year, ranking in the top 91% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.1% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do parts salespersons earn?

The median annual wage for parts salespersons is $37,440. That puts parts salespersons at #733 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is parts salespersons a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for parts salespersons is +3.1%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 272K positions in 2024 to 280K in 2034, a net change of 8K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do parts salespersons do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working parts salespersons, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Manage shipments by researching shipping methods or costs and tracking packages.
2. 2.Maintain and clean work and inventory areas.
3. 3.Advise customers on substitution or modification of parts when identical replacements are not available.
4. 4.Receive payment or obtain credit authorization.
5. 5.Read catalogs, microfiche viewers, or computer displays to determine replacement part stock numbers and prices.
6. 6.Examine returned parts for defects, and exchange defective parts or refund money.
7. 7.Measure parts, using precision measuring instruments, to determine whether similar parts may be machined to required sizes.
8. 8.Repair parts or equipment.

Top skills for parts salespersons

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become parts salesperson?

Many parts salespersons enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Sales Engineers
  $121,520 median
• Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
  $100,070 median
• Models
  $89,990 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
  $84,130 median
• Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
  $78,140 median
• Real Estate Brokers
  $72,280 median

Common questions parents ask about parts salespersons