Parts Specialist Job Description

Salary Range

$33,110 - $49,850

Experience

Entry-level to 2 years

Work Environment

Parts counter and stockroom

What Does a Parts Specialist Do?

Technicians with a car on the lift and customers waiting in the lobby are both stuck until the right part turns up. At dealerships, auto parts stores and fleet garages, the parts specialist looks it up by make, model and year, pulls it from the shelf or orders it in, and gets it to the bay or across the counter.

Other Job Titles for This Work

Workers in this occupation report titles such as Parts Advisor, Parts Consultant, Parts Counter Salesperson, Parts Counterman, Parts Counterperson, Parts Person, Parts Salesman, Parts Salesperson.

Parts Specialist Duties and Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of a parts specialist include:

• Look up parts in electronic catalogs by make, model, year and vehicle identification number.
• Issue parts to technicians against repair orders and charge them to the right job.
• Order stock and special parts from suppliers, checking price, availability and delivery time.
• Receive shipments, compare them with packing slips and shelve parts in labeled bins.
• Handle returns, warranty parts and cores (used parts sent back for credit).
• Sell parts and accessories at the counter and by phone to shops and walk-in customers.
• Count bins during cycle counts and fix mismatches in the inventory system.
• Advise customers on compatible parts, fluids and aftermarket alternatives.
• Arrange rush deliveries when a vehicle on the lift is waiting for a part.
• Keep the stockroom tidy and safe, storing batteries, fluids and heavy items correctly.

Required Skills and Qualifications

To succeed as a parts specialist, you will need the following skills and qualifications:

• Electronic parts catalogs and dealer management systems
• Working knowledge of vehicle systems
• Inventory and point-of-sale software
• Accuracy with part numbers
• Friendly, quick counter service
• Basic math for pricing and margins
• Lifting and moving heavy parts
• Valid driver's license for deliveries

Education and Training

If you know your way around a car and like helping customers, a parts counter is a practical place to start, since most specialists learn through a few months of on-the-job training. Some start out by delivering parts or working in a repair shop. With experience, you could progress from the counter to parts manager or service advisor.

Salary and Job Outlook

Employment of parts salespersons should grow about 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 30,000 openings a year, according to BLS. That is plenty of openings for newcomers. Counter work often is tied to how much people drive, but parts specialists always will be needed as vehicles wear out brakes and belts and as shops push for faster repairs.

Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Parts salespersons.

Parts Specialist Pay Range

Highest-Paying States for Parts Specialists

The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are North Dakota ($48,600), Colorado ($47,660), Minnesota ($47,030), Washington ($46,830), Iowa ($46,670). Pay is lowest in North Carolina ($32,480), South Carolina ($32,180), Louisiana ($31,310).

What the Work Is Like

O*NET surveys people who work as parts salespersons about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:

• 97% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
• 94% are on the phone every day
• 80% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
• 80% deal with rude or angry people at least once a week
• 76% use email every day
• 76% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
• 66% usually work more than 40 hours a week

Education Workers Say the Job Needs

Tools and Software Parts Specialists Use

Tools and equipment

• Computer laser printers
• Digital still cameras
• Electronic cash registers
• Laptop computers
• Microfiche viewing equipment
• Multiline telephone systems
• Personal computers
• Tablet computers
• Warehouse forklifts

Software

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Adobe Acrobat
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word
• SAP software
• Inventory control system software
• Inventory management systems
• Customer information databases
• Inventory tracking software
• SmugMug Flickr

Is This Job a Good Fit for You?

People who do well in this job tend to enjoy organized work with data, records and clear procedures as well as hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors.

Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Speaking, Persuasion, Reading Comprehension, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness.

Knowledge areas used most: Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing, Administration and Management, Administrative, Computers and Electronics.

Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 2 of 5, which means some preparation.

Related Careers

These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:

• Materials Supply Storekeeper job description
• Stock Inventory Assistant job description
• Inventory Specialist job description
• Shipping Clerk job description
• Receiving Clerk job description
• Property Control Specialist job description
• Sales Assistant job description
• Retail Associate job description

Applying for a Parts Specialist Job

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