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How to hire an automotive sales consultant

Automotive sales consultant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring automotive sales consultants in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire an automotive sales consultant is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per automotive sales consultant on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 169,408 automotive sales consultants in the US and 150,781 job openings.
  • Newton, MA, has the highest demand for automotive sales consultants, with 20 job openings.
  • Houston, TX has the highest concentration of automotive sales consultants.

How to hire an automotive sales consultant, step by step

To hire an automotive sales consultant, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire an automotive sales consultant, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step automotive sales consultant hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an automotive sales consultant job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new automotive sales consultant
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an automotive sales consultant do?

An automotive sales consultant is a trained salesman who assists customers in making purchase decisions. They usually work for car dealership companies where they are in charge of utilizing their communications skills and product knowledge in helping clients by answering inquiries, discussing automotive specifications, providing other options, and even facilitating test drives. Besides persuading clients, they also help by solving concerns and arranging other services. Moreover, on behalf of the company, it is their responsibility to build positive relationships with clients through optimal services.

Learn more about the specifics of what an automotive sales consultant does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the automotive sales consultant you need to hire. Certain automotive sales consultant roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect automotive sales consultant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list presents automotive sales consultant salaries for various positions.

    Type of Automotive Sales ConsultantDescriptionHourly rate
    Automotive Sales ConsultantRetail sales workers include both those who sell retail merchandise, such as clothing, furniture, and automobiles, (called retail salespersons) and those who sell spare and replacement parts and equipment, especially car parts (called parts salespersons). Both types of workers help customers find the products they want and process customers’ payments.$19-55
    Sales ProfessionalA sales professional is an employee who is responsible for the management and assessment of the effectiveness of a company's sales representatives and sales team. By setting sales goals, sales professionals work with other departments to learn more about the company's products and services while developing strategies for acquiring new clients... Show more$20-52
    Sales PersonA salesperson is in charge of ensuring that the products, goods, or services of the company get sold to customers. They are trained to market the products well, understand what the customer needs, and find the product that best fits the customer's needs... Show more$6-58
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Automotive Sales
    • Customer Satisfaction
    • Test Drive
    • Work Ethic
    • Sales Process
    • Referral Business
    • CRM
    • Product Knowledge
    • Sales Training
    • Chrysler
    • Jeep
    • Toyota
    • Repeat Business
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • manage Facebook page, critique and edit dealership website, radio presence, CRM experience
    • Utilize CRM software to follow up with prospective customers as well as to generate new leads.
    • Use of Internet base CRM system to generate leads, track prospects, and follow up with prospects and clients alike.
    • Coordinate and manage services and requests from clients for BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes for auto body repairs and restorations.
    • Cater and sell to a select clientele such as Nissan, Hyundai, Buick, and Chevrolet.
    • Develop strong knowledge of Hyundai and Mazda products and equipment.
    More automotive sales consultant duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your automotive sales consultant job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An automotive sales consultant salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for an automotive sales consultant in Wyoming may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level automotive sales consultant usually earns less than a senior-level automotive sales consultant. Additionally, an automotive sales consultant with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average automotive sales consultant salary

    $69,093yearly

    $33.22 hourly rate

    Entry-level automotive sales consultant salary
    $41,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 19, 2026

    Average automotive sales consultant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Massachusetts$82,804$40
    2Rhode Island$73,603$35
    3Florida$73,156$35
    4North Carolina$70,924$34
    5Ohio$69,905$34
    6Arizona$66,915$32
    7Kentucky$65,778$32
    8Virginia$64,892$31
    9Indiana$63,280$30
    10Maryland$62,690$30
    11Nebraska$59,229$28
    12Texas$58,779$28
    13Tennessee$57,576$28
    14Illinois$57,158$27
    15Colorado$54,919$26
    16Minnesota$51,500$25
    17Iowa$44,559$21

    Average automotive sales consultant salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Thoughtworks$121,222$58.28
    2Asbury Automotive Group$107,165$51.52276
    3Progressive Auto Group$79,438$38.1912
    4George's$77,632$37.3259
    5Mazda$76,162$36.6216
    6Sinclair Broadcast Group$74,697$35.917
    7Jordan Ford$72,343$34.78
    8H&H Chevrolet$72,046$34.64
    9Safari$69,688$33.50
    10Tim Dahle Nissan$69,503$33.41
    11Lithia Motors$68,559$32.962
    12Passport Auto Group$67,107$32.2624
    13Boch Automotive$66,110$31.78
    14AutoNation$65,423$31.45124
    15Scott Clark Toyota$65,247$31.371
    16Capital Wilmington$65,233$31.3614
    17Friendly Chevrolet$64,429$30.986
    18Volkswagen AG$61,253$29.4518
    19Tim Lally Chevrolet$60,890$29.275
    20El Toro$59,363$28.5422
  4. Writing an automotive sales consultant job description

    A job description for an automotive sales consultant role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an automotive sales consultant job description:

    Automotive sales consultant job description example

    $2,000 - $4,000 Signing Bonus Available!

    Responsibilities

    • Understand and implement dealership sales process
    • Own every aspect of the sales process (from new client prospecting to vehicle delivery)
    • Present and demonstrate inventory
    • Review, update and manage daily inventory reports
    • Create and execute strategies for increasing market share
    • Prepare and review monthly plans with sales leadership
    • Maintain Customer Service Index, Gross Average and monthly units to dealership standards
    • Remain up-to-date on products, market trends and certification
    • Must be familiar with Client Relationship Management (CRM) software

    Education and/or Experience

    Experience, education and prior sales training are a PLUS.

    About Us

    At Peak Performance Team, our core philosophy is that leaders should have the freedom to make their own decisions regarding the products they offer and how they handle claims. We accomplish this by creating customized, wealth-building purchase and protection products, previously available only to administrators and the largest franchise dealer groups and bring them to all dealerships..and we’ll train your staff in the best ways to present and sell the products to maximize your profits and create a satisfied customer-base who will not only return for future purchases but will also sell YOU to their families and friends. We’ll make you their hero!

    PPT staff is comprised of industry experts dedicated to their craft. As real-world professionals who have spent years working in dealerships, insurance companies, and TPA’s; we have become true subject matter experts in sales and marketing, captive and risk management, product design, and more. We understand the complexities and challenges that dealers face. That’s why we’ve made it our revenue rather than lining the pockets of a corporate administrator.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find automotive sales consultants for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    To find automotive sales consultant candidates, you can consider the following options:
    • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
    • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
    • Post your job on free job posting websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with automotive sales consultant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new automotive sales consultant

    Once you've found the automotive sales consultant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new automotive sales consultant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an automotive sales consultant?

Before you start to hire automotive sales consultants, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire automotive sales consultants pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $69,093 per year for an automotive sales consultant, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for automotive sales consultants in the US typically range between $19 and $55 an hour.

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