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

What is a parts specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

A parts specialist specializes in identifying, sourcing, and supplying automotive or machinery parts. They identify the right part for the job, based on a customer's specific needs and requirements. They work with mechanics, repair shops, and dealerships to ensure that the right parts are available. A parts specialist has extensive knowledge of automotive and machinery components, as well as the ability to find parts quickly and efficiently. They may also maintain inventory records and manage stock.

ScoreParts SpecialistUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $33,611

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

6.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.39%

Asian 1.67%

Black or African American 4.26%

Hispanic or Latino 20.14%

Unknown 4.19%

White 69.34%

Gender

female 23.06%

male 76.94%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a parts specialist?

Pros

Possibility for career advancement within the parts industry
Opportunities for continuing education and training
Potential for good pay and benefits, especially with experience and seniority
Job security in a growing industry
Good communication skills can enhance customer service and increase customer satisfaction

Cons

May require long hours or weekend work, especially in auto parts stores that are open seven days a week
Can be physically demanding with lifting and carrying heavy parts
Often required to work on commission, which can be unpredictable and dependent on factors outside of the specialist's control
May require working in an outdoor environment (e.g. in a junkyard)
Can be repetitive work depending on the type of parts being sold, leading to potential boredom or lack of challenge over time

Key steps to become a parts specialist

Explore parts specialist education requirements

Most common parts specialist degrees

High School Diploma

40.6 %

Associate

23.1 %

Bachelor's

19.6 %

Start to develop specific parts specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Taking Care	64.49%
Customer Service	4.18%
Inventory Control	3.13%
Data Entry	2.06%
Parts Inventory	1.88%

Complete relevant parts specialist training and internships

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

Gain additional parts specialist certifications

Parts specialist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific parts specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for parts specialists include Automotive Sales Professional and Parts Specialist - Automobile Parts Specialist P2.

More About Certifications

Research parts specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage DIY services including battery installation, testing, wiper installs, etc.
Maintain inventory control and increase profit of automotive dealership parts department.
Interface with cataloging engineers regarding correcting the parts catalog and technical specifications of parts.
Train all new counterman staff.

Prepare your parts specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your parts specialist 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 specialist 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 specialist resume templates

Build a professional parts specialist 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 specialist resume.