How to hire a parts runner

How to hire a parts runner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step parts runner hiring guide:

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

What does a parts runner do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your parts runner job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a parts runner for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A parts runner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, parts runners from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents parts runner salaries for various positions.

   Type of Parts Runner	Description	Hourly rate
   Parts Runner	Retail 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.	$12-18
   Parts Coordinator	A parts coordinator usually works at retail establishments and warehouses where they are primarily in charge of coordinating with suppliers and vendors to maintain an adequate supply of materials and spare parts. They are also responsible for managing backorders, overseeing shipments and deliveries, maintaining records, and supervising operations to ensure that all issues get resolved in a timely and efficient manner... Show more	$14-23
   Parts Counter Clerk	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... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Phone Calls
   • Customer Service
   • Inventory Control
   • HVAC
   • DOT
   • Delivery Truck
   • CDL
   • Parts Room
   • Part Numbers
   • Parts Counter
   • Stock Orders
   • Parts Inventory
   • Assembly Line
   • Customer Orders

   Check all skills

   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.

   More parts runner duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your parts runner job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A parts runner 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 a parts runner in Indiana may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level parts runner usually earns less than a senior-level parts runner. Additionally, a parts runner 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 parts runner salary

   $15.17hourly

   $31,562 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level parts runner salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average parts runner salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	North Dakota	$37,929	$18
   2	California	$35,197	$17
   3	Colorado	$35,039	$17
   4	Illinois	$34,375	$17
   5	Utah	$34,005	$16
   6	Minnesota	$33,749	$16
   7	New Hampshire	$33,136	$16
   8	District of Columbia	$31,472	$15
   9	Kansas	$31,334	$15
   10	Oregon	$30,628	$15
   11	Pennsylvania	$30,174	$15
   12	Maryland	$29,976	$14
   13	Florida	$29,884	$14
   14	Georgia	$29,262	$14
   15	Texas	$28,944	$14
   16	Arizona	$28,880	$14
   17	Ohio	$26,476	$13
   18	Virginia	$26,197	$13
   19	Michigan	$25,564	$12

   Average parts runner salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Martin Marietta	$39,724	$19.10
   2	NRG Energy	$37,604	$18.08
   3	Clyde Companies	$36,682	$17.64	4
   4	FNF Construction	$35,798	$17.21
   5	Petticoat-Schmitt	$34,583	$16.63
   6	Interstate Highway Construction	$34,570	$16.62
   7	H&K Group	$34,568	$16.62
   8	Fisher Industries	$34,557	$16.61
   9	Cornejo & Sons	$34,321	$16.50
   10	The Dwyer Group	$34,185	$16.44
   11	Heritage Home Group	$33,937	$16.32	1
   12	NPL Construction Co.	$33,791	$16.25
   13	Bituminous Roadways	$33,577	$16.14
   14	Triple-S	$33,406	$16.06
   15	Allen Plumbing And Heating, Inc.	$33,342	$16.03
   16	Lupient Automotive Group	$33,151	$15.94
   17	George J Igel & Co Inc	$32,976	$15.85
   18	Sonic Automotive	$32,283	$15.52	10
   19	Pine State Mortgage	$32,231	$15.50
   20	Omni Air International	$32,204	$15.48

4. Writing a parts runner job description

   A parts runner job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a parts runner job description:

   Parts runner job description example

   Summary of Job:
   
   The primary function of the parts runner role is to deliver materials and equipment to support work within the Special Projects group. This position is a critical part of maintaining productivity and efficiency in all Special Projects trades. The secondary function of this role is to support ongoing work as a multi-trade helper where and when needed.
   
   Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
   Must work efficiently and be dependable and be comfortable on a schedule Sort and prepare a delivery route to meet team needs and project deadlines Must be able to stay on schedule and be dependable Must be able to operate and maneuver a work van or truck full of tools, materials, and equipment Maneuver and control the vehicle in a safe fashion, which includes handling the vehicle on-site and in over-the-road situations, proper signaling, searching for hazards, controlling speed, lane positioning, matching speeds to road conditions (wet, dry, snow, or ice), and the ability to drive during the daytime or nighttime Safely load and unload all equipment/materials over all terrains, and properly secure all loads Responsible for routine fueling, lubricating, and servicing of their vehicle Travel (sometimes in excess of 100 miles from office) to job sites and work outdoors Perform pre-trip inspections of vehicle When not driving/delivering assist in the mechanical construction of HVAC, plumbing, and mechanical piping systems
   
   Education and Experience
   High school diploma or GED preferred1 year of relevant material handling experience Must have a valid driver's license and good driving record Previous construction experience or military experience preferred
   
   Skills and Abilities:
   Must be able to follow directions well Must be organized and familiar with different materials Demonstrate proper and safe use of tools and related equipment Experience in providing quality, professional customer-related services Ability to work and communicate effectively individually as well as in a team environment Ability to handle disruptions in stride with professionalism Ability to work independently in a commercial construction setting
   
   Physical Demands/Working Conditions:
   The physical activities described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.Individuals may need to ride or drive in a vehicle for 2 or more hours at a time depending on position.Individuals working at an outside job site may be exposed to varying temperatures including very hot (above 90 degrees F) or very cold (below 32 degrees F) and all-weather conditions.Individuals may be exposed to: cramped work spaces, contaminants, extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions, exposure to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.Performing this job requires frequent use of hands to handle, control or feel objects, tools or controls. Must be able to sit, talk, hear, and stand frequently throughout the day. Must be able to climb, reach above shoulder height, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl frequently. The position occasionally may require lifting heavy objects (up to 75 pounds) and performing strenuous physical labor under adverse field conditions.Individuals may occasionally be exposed to hazardous conditions, high places and/or hazardous equipment. May work with or around chemicals that require knowledge of a safety data sheet.
   
   Lee Company is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information or testing, or family and medical leave.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right parts runner for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   To find parts runner 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 parts runner 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 parts runner

   Once you've found the parts runner 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.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new parts runner. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 a parts runner?