Parts specialist vs parts sales associate

The differences between parts specialists and parts sales associates 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 sales associate. Additionally, a parts specialist has an average salary of $33,611, which is higher than the $32,871 average annual salary of a parts sales associate.

The top three skills for a parts specialist include taking care, customer service and inventory control. The most important skills for a parts sales associate are customer service, phone calls, and parts sales.

Parts specialist vs parts sales associate overview

	Parts Specialist	Parts Sales Associate
Yearly salary	$33,611	$32,871
Hourly rate	$16.16	$15.80
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	46,301	159,569
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 38%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	4	4

Parts specialist vs parts sales associate salary

Parts specialists and parts sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Parts Specialist	Parts Sales Associate
Average salary	$33,611	$32,871
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $42,000	Between $25,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	-
Highest paying state	Washington	-
Best paying company	Steel Dynamics	-
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	-

Differences between parts specialist and parts sales associate education

There are a few differences between a parts specialist and a parts sales associate in terms of educational background:

	Parts Specialist	Parts Sales Associate
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 38%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Parts specialist vs parts sales associate demographics

Here are the differences between parts specialists' and parts sales associates' demographics:

	Parts Specialist	Parts Sales Associate
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 76.9% Female, 23.1%	Male, 79.4% Female, 20.6%
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, 4.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 1.6% White, 69.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between parts specialist and parts sales associate duties and responsibilities

Parts specialist example 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.
Skil in navigating AS400 database.
Complete H-DU chrome staff consultant training.

Parts sales associate example responsibilities.

Manage DIY services including battery installation, testing, wiper installs, etc.
Locate and order requested parts by using ADP software.
Look up and sell parts to the public through ADP systems.
Specify and sell parts for industrial generators and diesel engines for such brands as Kohler, Honda, Kubota and Mitsubishi.
Develop relationships with personnel from other Chrysler dealerships to participate in a mutually beneficial parts purchase and delivery co op.
Order OEM parts for wholesale customers via email, phone, and fax.

Parts specialist vs parts sales associate skills

Common parts specialist skills

Taking Care, 64%
Customer Service, 4%
Inventory Control, 3%
Data Entry, 2%
Parts Inventory, 2%
Inventory Management, 2%

Common parts sales associate skills

Customer Service, 15%
Phone Calls, 14%
Parts Sales, 9%
Cleanliness, 9%
Parts Counter, 5%
Cycle Counts, 5%

Parts Specialist vs. similar jobs

Parts Specialist related careers

Parts Specialist related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Sales Industry
Parts Specialist
Parts Specialist vs Parts Sales Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse sales jobs