How To Become A Parts Counter Clerk: What It Is and Career Path

What is a parts counter clerk and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Parts counter clerks sell parts for automobiles and machinery that need to be repaired. They work in service shops or stores selling spare parts. They serve service technicians with components they request. They identify the part they are looking for, locate and select the right item, and fulfill the orders by purchasing the requested component from a third-party vendor.

Working in this position, you will be responsible for preparing the billing for purchased items as well. It will be your task to arrange the inventory of the repair shop you work for. You will make sure necessary items are on stock and organize and report the stock to ensure flawless functioning of the establishment.

Familiarity with the technologies used in the industry you work for is a must. Whatever items your repair shop specializes in fixing, you will be required to have a basic understanding of the technical specifics to be able to find the correct parts. A high school diploma is enough as far as formal education goes, but you will have to learn to read blueprints and diagrams to perform the role with success.

ScoreParts Counter ClerkUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $34,122

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

6.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.39%

Asian 1.57%

Black or African American 4.02%

Hispanic or Latino 20.06%

Unknown 4.14%

White 69.81%

Gender

female 20.92%

male 79.08%

Age - 46

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 - 46

Stress level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.1

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a parts counter clerk

Explore parts counter clerk education requirements

Most common parts counter clerk degrees

High School Diploma

44.6 %

Associate

22.6 %

Diploma

12.5 %

Start to develop specific parts counter clerk skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	30.26%
Parts Counter	14.00%
Phone Calls	11.62%
POS	5.11%
Inventory Control	4.34%

Complete relevant parts counter clerk training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New parts counter clerks 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 a parts counter clerk based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real parts counter clerk resumes.

Research parts counter clerk duties and responsibilities

Manage DIY services including battery installation, testing, wiper installs, etc.
Develop relationships with personnel from other Chrysler dealerships to participate in a mutually beneficial parts purchase and delivery co op.
Deliver items to customers, whether they are a dealership, bodyshop or regular customer.

Prepare your parts counter clerk resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your parts counter clerk resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a parts counter clerk resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable parts counter clerk resume templates

Build a professional parts counter clerk resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your parts counter clerk resume.