How To Become An Assistant Parts Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is an assistant parts manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The average assistant parts manager salary is $58,924. The most common degree is a high school diploma degree with an business major. It usually takes 4-6 years of experience to become an assistant parts manager. Assistant parts managers with a Parts Specialist - Automobile Parts Specialist P2 certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 189,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreAssistant Parts ManagerUS Average

Salary

4.6

Avg. Salary $58,924

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.4

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 6.57%

Black or African American 9.91%

Hispanic or Latino 15.81%

Unknown 4.74%

White 62.31%

Gender

female 14.61%

male 85.39%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

9.4

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.2

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an assistant parts manager

Explore assistant parts manager education requirements

Most common assistant parts manager degrees

High School Diploma

34.3 %

Bachelor's

26.5 %

Associate

24.6 %

Start to develop specific assistant parts manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	20.53%
Inventory Control	10.50%
Parts Inventory	7.93%
Warranty Claims	5.61%
Purchase Orders	5.60%

Complete relevant assistant parts manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant parts managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant parts manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant parts manager resumes.

Gain additional assistant parts manager certifications

Assistant parts manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific assistant parts manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for assistant parts managers include Parts Specialist - Automobile Parts Specialist P2 and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research assistant parts manager duties and responsibilities

Key initiative to achieve and maintain a high CSI index.
Lead relationships with wholesale and OEM vendors, regarding delivery cost and inventory levels to meet designate budget levels.
Supervise Honda and Toyota parts departments concurrently.
Pass, several require Chrysler parts tests each year.

Apply for assistant parts manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an assistant parts manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do assistant parts managers rate their job?

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Assistant parts manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Pros

figuring out how to solve problem and resolving

Cons

over seeing employees, hard to find employees with good work ethics