Mid-Level

Parts Counter Clerk

The parts sales clerk — helping customers find and purchase automotive parts.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
R
E
S
I
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Parts Counter Clerks
Employment concentration · ~389 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Parts Counter Clerk

As a Parts Counter Clerk, you work at a parts counter selling automotive parts to customers. You help identify needed parts, locate them in inventory, and complete sales. It's retail work in an automotive environment.

Your day involves customer service and parts sales. You might help customers find parts for their vehicles, look up part numbers, retrieve items from inventory, process payments, and maintain the counter and display areas.

If you want retail work in an automotive environment and enjoy helping customers, parts counter work provides that. The challenge is learning the products and applications. The people who succeed have customer service orientation and develop parts knowledge over time.

RelationshipsModerate
IndependenceLower
SupportLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Store typeProduct scopeCustomer mixTraining depthCareer path
Parts clerk roles vary by employer. Chain stores have structured training. Independent shops may provide more hands-on learning. Dealerships focus on specific brands. Customer mix ranges from DIY to professional.
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Parts Counter Clerks (SOC 41-2022.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Parts Counter Clerk career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
1
Parts knowledge
Understanding parts is essential for the role
2
Customer service
Helping customers drives success
3
Efficiency
Handling volume requires speed and accuracy
What training is provided on parts?
What is the typical customer?
What are the hours?
What is the compensation?
What advancement is available?
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$28K–$62K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
265K
U.S. Employment
+3.1%
10yr Growth
30K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$58K$55K$52K201920202021202220232024$52K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningSpeakingPersuasionReading ComprehensionService OrientationSocial PerceptivenessCritical ThinkingMonitoringTime ManagementJudgment and Decision Making
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
41-2022.00

Navigate your career with clarity

Truest gives you tools to understand your strengths, explore roles that fit, and plan your next move.

Explore Truest career tools
Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.