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The differences between parts associates and parts runners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a parts associate and a parts runner. Additionally, a parts associate has an average salary of $32,152, which is higher than the $31,562 average annual salary of a parts runner.
The top three skills for a parts associate include parts inventory, customer satisfaction and inventory control. The most important skills for a parts runner are phone calls, customer service, and inventory control.
| Parts Associate | Parts Runner | |
| Yearly salary | $32,152 | $31,562 |
| Hourly rate | $15.46 | $15.17 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 23,603 | 36,491 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A parts associate works in a parts store and is responsible for selling, identifying, and procuring parts. Working with customers, parts associates evaluate customer problems and descriptions to identify the right parts needed for replacement. These associates also maintain an inventory log and trace parts for older machines as may be required. Parts associates advise and demonstrate to clients how respective parts function, how to properly install the components on machines, and how to use them correctly.
Parts runners are essential to the function of the parts department. They are responsible for either delivering the part of the automotive to customers or picking up the parts for a shop job. Their duties include picking up the payment for items ordered, delivering several automotive parts to different routes, and picking up parts needed to complete the automotive repair. Also, they pick up returned items from clients, examine the parts to match the parts sold to them, and provide the customer with the return receipt. In addition, parts runners maintain the vehicle used for the delivery.
Parts associates and parts runners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Parts Associate | Parts Runner | |
| Average salary | $32,152 | $31,562 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $38,000 | Between $26,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Grand Forks, ND |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | Martin Marietta |
| Best paying industry | - | Construction |
There are a few differences between a parts associate and a parts runner in terms of educational background:
| Parts Associate | Parts Runner | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between parts associates' and parts runners' demographics:
| Parts Associate | Parts Runner | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.7% Female, 22.3% | Male, 76.0% Female, 24.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 1.7% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 1.7% White, 69.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |