Parts driver vs parts counter clerk

The differences between parts drivers and parts counter clerks 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 driver and a parts counter clerk. Additionally, a parts counter clerk has an average salary of $34,122, which is higher than the $33,224 average annual salary of a parts driver.

The top three skills for a parts driver include customer service, cleanliness and parts inventory. The most important skills for a parts counter clerk are customer service, parts counter, and phone calls.

Parts driver vs parts counter clerk overview

	Parts Driver	Parts Counter Clerk
Yearly salary	$33,224	$34,122
Hourly rate	$15.97	$16.40
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	146,082	95,411
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 45%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	4	4

What does a parts driver do?

Parts delivery drivers work for a machine parts distributor or an auto parts outlet. Usually, delivery drivers deliver to repair shops and local dealerships for inventory replenishment. A lot of car repair shops maintain lower quantities of less common parts. Oftentimes, they complete their other duties in times of slow periods. Other than that, they unload inventory upon arrival from distribution centers and manufacturers. They also learn efficient delivery routes and become respectful to customers.

What does a parts counter clerk do?

A parts counter clerk is a customer service position responsible for advising customers about parts and selling parts to customers. The person holding this position is responsible for receiving and verifying new stock when delivered, managing inventory and sales records, billing and receiving payment, and making orders to replenish parts stock. Parts counter clerks are also responsible for the day to day management of a parts store, including doing returns, basic bookkeeping, and cleaning.

Parts driver vs parts counter clerk salary

Parts drivers and parts counter clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Parts Driver	Parts Counter Clerk
Average salary	$33,224	$34,122
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $42,000	Between $27,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	Addison, IL
Highest paying state	Washington	Minnesota
Best paying company	Ken Garff Automotive Group	Freightliner Trucks
Best paying industry	Transportation	Manufacturing

Differences between parts driver and parts counter clerk education

There are a few differences between a parts driver and a parts counter clerk in terms of educational background:

	Parts Driver	Parts Counter Clerk
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 45%
Most common major	Business	Automotive Technology
Most common college	-	-

Parts driver vs parts counter clerk demographics

Here are the differences between parts drivers' and parts counter clerks' demographics:

	Parts Driver	Parts Counter Clerk
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8%	Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 1.6% White, 70.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 1.6% White, 69.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between parts driver and parts counter clerk duties and responsibilities

Parts driver example responsibilities.

Manage DIY services including battery installation, testing, wiper installs, etc.
Used various resources such as GPS and maps to plan routes efficiently.
Assemble and service a variety of off road vehicles and other Honda brand tools and prepare them for customers.
Look up aftermarket and OEM parts for Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Polaris, Honda, and BRP products.
Maintain warehouse organization and cleanliness.
Maintain warehouse inventory and cleanliness.

Parts counter clerk example 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.

Parts driver vs parts counter clerk skills

Common parts driver skills

Customer Service, 33%
Cleanliness, 12%
Parts Inventory, 7%
Customer Orders, 7%
Wholesale Accounts, 5%
Delivery Vehicle, 5%

Common parts counter clerk skills

Customer Service, 30%
Parts Counter, 14%
Phone Calls, 12%
POS, 5%
Inventory Control, 4%
Customer Orders, 4%

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Parts Driver
Parts Driver vs Parts Counter Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

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