SOC 7115 Sales occupations

Vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers Salary

Median salary £31,750 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £32,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers, £31,851 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -18% versus the national average. Experienced vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers (top 25%) earn over £35,951.

About this role

Vehicle and parts salespersons sell new and used vehicles, parts and accessories in dealerships and motor trade businesses. They advise customers, arrange test drives, negotiate deals, process finance applications and manage the sales process.

Key responsibilities

Advising customers on vehicle selection and options
Arranging test drives and vehicle demonstrations
Negotiating prices and trade-in values
Processing finance and insurance applications
Managing leads and maintaining customer relationships

Qualifications and entry routes

No specific qualifications required. IMI qualifications in vehicle sales are available. FCA authorisation training required for finance product sales. Manufacturer-specific sales training is provided by dealers.

Career outlook

Online vehicle sales are reshaping the industry but dealership sales roles remain. Electric vehicle knowledge and digital customer engagement skills are increasingly important.

Key skills

Product knowledge Negotiation Customer relationship management Finance product knowledge Digital marketing

Common industries

Franchised car dealers
Used car dealers
Commercial vehicle sales
Motor parts retailers
Online vehicle sales

Data coverage

SOC code 7115

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 12,000

Median Salary

£31,750

Mean Salary

£33,261

Jobs (000s)

12k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £28,363Median: £31,750P75: £35,951

P10: £23kP25: £28kMedian: £32kP75: £36kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£23,078

0-2 years

Mid Level

£28,363

3-7 years

Senior

£35,951

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +56% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +52.3%Real growth: +10.4%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: -4.6%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£31,750

Full-time Only

£31,851

Full-time premium: +£101

Vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers salary: common questions

How much do vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers earn in the UK?

Vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers earn a median of £31,851 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £28,363 and £35,951.

Is £31,851 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers?

Entry-level vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £28,363, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £23,078.

Have vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers pay has risen from £21,186 to £31,851 — +50% in cash terms, or +9.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers?

Male vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers earn a median £31,463 and female vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers £32,899 — a gap of +5.0% in 2025 in women’s favour.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).