Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Parts salespersons help customers find and purchase the parts they need, combining product knowledge with strong customer service and communication skills. Nationally, this occupation employs about 272,000 workers, indicating a wide presence across many locations. The role draws on a mix of skills, including customer service, mechanical aptitude, speaking and listening, basic mathematics, and comfort with computers and information technology. Leadership and project management skills can also be useful, especially in busier or more complex sales environments. Physical strength and stamina may be important where parts are large or frequently handled. With a national median annual salary of $37,440 and a projected employment growth rate of 3.1%, this path can appeal to individuals seeking stable, people-focused work. The field offers options in many states and metro areas, along with related alternatives such as food service managers, hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks, first-line supervisors of gambling services workers, order clerks, and other sales and related workers.
The national median annual salary for parts salespersons is $37,440. Earnings vary by location, and several states offer higher median pay. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $44,440 in California to $47,660 in Colorado. Massachusetts and Washington also show mid-$40,000s median salaries, while New York reaches $45,180. At the metro level, several areas stand out with even higher median salaries. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports a median salary of $50,200, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is close behind at $50,030. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro also shows a higher median of $46,930. These figures suggest that location can significantly influence earning potential for parts salespersons, with certain states and metropolitan areas offering higher typical pay than the national median.
Parts salespersons have a national employment level of about 272,000 workers, reflecting a sizable workforce in this occupation. The projected employment growth rate is 3.1%, indicating expectations for continued demand over the projection period. In addition, there are an estimated 30,000 annual openings. This combination of existing employment, projected growth, and ongoing openings points to a labor market where new and experienced workers may find opportunities. The 3.1% growth rate appears consistently across the listed top states and metro areas, suggesting broadly similar growth expectations in those highlighted locations. For students, job seekers, and career changers, this outlook means there may be opportunities to enter the field or move between employers as openings occur. People considering this career can factor both the projected growth and the steady flow of openings into their long-term plans.
Location plays a noticeable role in the opportunity profile for parts salespersons. Among the top states by opportunity score, California ranks highest with a score of 67.38, a median salary of $44,440, employment of 26,990, and 3.1% growth. Massachusetts and New York have similar growth rates and median salaries in the mid-$40,000s, with opportunity scores just above 65. Colorado and Washington also offer median salaries above the national figure and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, several areas stand out even more. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $50,200. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro follows closely with a 77.27 score and a $46,930 median salary. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH all combine mid-to-high $40,000s or $50,000-level salaries with 3.1% growth, offering comparatively strong local opportunity indicators.
The typical education requirement for parts salespersons is no formal educational credential. This makes the field accessible to individuals who prefer to enter the workforce without completing a specific degree or formal program. Even without a formal credential requirement, certain skills are especially important. Customer service and interpersonal skills are central, as the role involves working directly with customers. Speaking and listening skills support clear communication, while writing and reading help with documentation and product information. Comfort with computers and information technology is also valuable. Mathematics and mechanical skills can assist with pricing, quantities, and understanding parts. Leadership and project management skills may be useful for coordinating tasks or guiding others, and physical strength and stamina can be important where handling parts is physically demanding. Focusing on these skills can help candidates prepare for opportunities and grow within this occupation.
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