Parts Advisor Jobs
Parts advisors work the parts counter, helping technicians and customers find, order and receive the right parts.
A parts advisor works the counter and phone, matches the right part to the right vehicle and gets it to a technician fast. You can start without years in the trade, but you must be exact, because a wrong part costs a bay time and a return. Show the catalogs, brands and customer types you have handled.
Data as of October 20, 2026.
Open Parts Advisor positions
Also known as automotive parts advisor and parts counter associate.
No Open Parts Advisor Jobs Right Now
New openings are posted regularly. Browse every open role, or create a profile so employers can find you.
A day as a Parts Advisor
A technician arrives with an RO, a VIN and a description, and the line behind him is growing. You look up the part, confirm fitment, check stock and price it for the pay type. If the shelf is empty you choose between the manufacturer, another dealer and an aftermarket supplier. A good advisor asks one more question before the part leaves the counter.
Between lookups you receive deliveries, put parts away, process returns and answer phones for retail and wholesale buyers. Retail customers bring a photo of the old part or a guess at a number; wholesale buyers want speed and terms. The first week is a catalog and DMS lesson with a senior counter person checking your work.
How to get in
Start as a Driver or Stocker
Delivering parts or working the stockroom teaches the shelf layout and how parts move between counter, shop and customers. Offer to cover lunch at the counter and watch lookups.
Move Over from Retail Auto Parts
Retail counters teach service and basic fitment. Dealerships add VINs, build codes, supersessions and manufacturer return rules. Say what you would study to switch catalogs.
Move Over from the Shop
Technicians and lube staff know parts by feel and by what fails. Tell the manager you want counter time. ASE's parts tests ask for 2 years of parts counter experience, so the time adds up.
Skills and credentials
Lookup and Fitment
- VIN lookups with build codes and options.
- Supersessions and fitment notes on replaced numbers.
- Follow-up questions on trim, engine or production date.
- Checking what the technician brings against the RO.
Counter and Stock
- Receiving, put-away and cycle counts that match the system.
- Core charges and returns, with the paperwork.
- Pricing by pay type, including wholesale.
- Honest updates on back orders and special orders.
Credentials and Tools
- ASE P2 Automobile Parts Specialist or P1 Medium-Heavy Truck Parts Specialist, each needing 2 years of counter work.
- A DMS parts module and manufacturer catalog and ordering portal.
- Brand experience with years.
- A valid driver's license if the store runs deliveries.
How the job is paid
| Measure | United States | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Median | $38,630 | $46,860 |
| Middle half earns | $33,110 to $49,850 | $38,700 to $61,150 |
| Lowest-paid tenth | $28,240 or less | $34,740 or less |
| Highest-paid tenth | $62,890 or more | $73,380 or more |
BLS occupation: "Parts Salespersons" (41-2022), all industries. BLS reports this occupation as "Parts Salespersons". It covers counter and sales staff who sell vehicle parts at dealerships, retail parts stores and wholesale distributors, so it is the closest official match to a dealership parts advisor.
Parts advisors are most often paid hourly, sometimes with a bonus on department gross profit, a spiff on certain products or commission on wholesale. Ask what the base is, what extra pay exists and how it paid over the last year. For overtime, check what your state requires.
The closest BLS match is Parts Salespersons (SOC 41-2022), and this page shows its wages. That category also covers parts counters outside dealerships, so use it as a reference, then compare base, bonus and hours in each offer. Ask about Saturdays, how many people share the counter, who runs wholesale and whether a driver exists.
Build your AutoHire profile
- Write a headline like Parts Advisor, Honda, so title and brand searches find you.
- In work history, list the catalogs and DMS you used, the customer types you served, and returns or cycle counts you ran.
- Add brand experience with the years on each manufacturer's parts program.
- List ASE P2 or P1 under certifications if you hold them, and fill in education, including automotive coursework.
- Write a short bio about the kind of counter you worked and how you kept lookups accurate.
- Set open-to-work and complete ID verification for the Verified badge. Employers can Spark or message you, and you can message back.
Interview questions to expect
- Q1
A technician wants a brake rotor and has no VIN. What do you do?
How to answerAsk for the VIN or RO, check build options and production date, and confirm front or rear and trim. Never hand over a part off a description alone.
- Q2
How do you handle a wrong-part return?
How to answerCheck the RO and your original lookup to find the cause, process the return inside the supplier's window, and note what you will change.
- Q3
A part is on back order and the car is on a lift.
How to answerCheck another dealer, another supplier or an appropriate aftermarket equivalent. Tell the advisor and technician the status and a realistic time, and update it when it changes.
- Q4
Explain a core charge to a retail customer.
How to answerIt is a deposit credited when the old part comes back in acceptable condition. Say what condition and how long they have.
- Q5
Two technicians and a wholesale buyer need you at once.
How to answerSort by who has a car waiting in a bay, who has a quick lookup and who can hold. Stay polite and keep a running list.
Where the career goes
- 01
Senior Advisor or Counter Lead
Accurate lookups and steady returns can lead to wholesale, special orders or training new staff.
- 02
Parts Manager
Add buying, pricing, inventory control and people management. Ask to place stock orders.
- 03
Warranty or Service Office
Parts staff who know ROs and pay types sometimes move to warranty or office roles with less counter traffic.
Terms you will hear
- VIN Lookup
- Finding a part through the vehicle identification number, which ties the request to the exact build.
- Supersession
- A newer part number that replaces an older one, sometimes with changes to fitment.
- Core
- A used part returned for a credit when a rebuilt or new replacement is sold.
- Special Order
- A part ordered for a specific job because it is not stocked.
- Back Order
- A part ordered but not available from the supplier until later.
- Fitment
- Whether a part is correct for a specific vehicle build.
- Wholesale
- Parts sold to other shops and businesses at trade prices.
Parts Advisor jobs: questions job seekers ask
Do I need automotive experience to be a parts advisor?
Not always. Many stores train new hires. Attention to detail and service matter, and vehicle knowledge helps.
What does a dealership parts advisor do all day?
Looks up and prices parts, serves technicians and customers at the counter and phone, receives stock and handles returns and cores.
Is there an ASE certification for parts advisors?
Yes. P2 covers automobiles and P1 covers medium-heavy trucks, each requiring 2 years of parts counter experience.
How much do parts advisors make?
This page shows BLS wages for the closest match, Parts Salespersons, which also includes non-dealership counters. Compare them to base, bonus and hours in each offer.
Is a parts advisor the same as a parts counter person?
Mostly. Titles include parts advisor, counter associate and parts specialist, so search each.
Can a parts advisor become a parts manager?
Yes, it is the usual path. Add buying, pricing and inventory control to your counter skills.
Sources
- BLS OEWS, Parts Salespersons (41-2022) (data as of May 2025)
- ASE: Parts Specialist tests P1 and P2 (data as of October 20, 2026)
- ASE: Work experience requirements (data as of October 20, 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (data as of October 20, 2026)
Data as of October 20, 2026.
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