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The differences between parts specialists and parts drivers 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 specialist and a parts driver. Additionally, a parts specialist has an average salary of $33,611, which is higher than the $33,224 average annual salary of a parts driver.
The top three skills for a parts specialist include taking care, customer service and inventory control. The most important skills for a parts driver are customer service, cleanliness, and parts inventory.
| Parts Specialist | Parts Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $33,611 | $33,224 |
| Hourly rate | $16.16 | $15.97 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 46,301 | 146,082 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Parts specialists are responsible for the sale and maintenance of inventory at a dealership, an automotive care center, or other businesses providing automotive parts and supplies. Their duties and responsibilities include maintaining detailed inventory records, purchasing automotive parts, and ensuring that parts are delivered promptly. They are responsible for answering customer questions about various machine parts and equipment. Qualifications for this position vary, which include relevant work experience, experience in a supervisory or managerial job, and professional training through a vocational school.
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.
Parts specialists and parts drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Parts Specialist | Parts Driver | |
| Average salary | $33,611 | $33,224 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $42,000 | Between $26,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Steel Dynamics | Ken Garff Automotive Group |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a parts specialist and a parts driver in terms of educational background:
| Parts Specialist | Parts Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between parts specialists' and parts drivers' demographics:
| Parts Specialist | Parts Driver | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.9% Female, 23.1% | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 1.7% White, 69.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |