# Parts Salespersons

US SOC code 41-2022. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/41-2022

Also called: Parts counter person, Parts specialist, Auto parts salesperson, Parts counterperson, Parts advisor.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **270,070** US parts salespersons, with median pay of **$38,630** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_part_retailer) of **50,000** from 1929, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for parts salespersons: Mobile apps, photo-based part identification, and VIN-scan ordering, 2015 to 2024.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=41-2022&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **34.3%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)
- **0.98** estimated probability that the whole occupation could be computerised, over an unspecified number of years. Not a forecast of job losses. [Frey and Osborne, 2013](https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf)

### Since the 2013 prediction

In 2013, Frey and Osborne put this job's probability of computerisation at 0.98. BLS counted **221,270** of these jobs in May 2013 and **270,070** in May 2025 (+22%, a change derived by Future History).

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Parts Salespersons employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1909
- Latest US employment: 270,070 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [4]
- Latest US median pay: $38,630 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [7]
- Outlook: +3% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [20]

### All 27 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1929 | 50,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Automotive part retailer [1] |
| 1957 | 130,000 (estimate) | $3,900 (estimate) | Est., History of Genuine Parts Company (NAPA… (employment) [2]; Est., University of Missouri Libraries (pay) [5] |
| 1979 | 185,000 (estimate) | $13,500 (estimate) | Est., AutoZone history (employment) [3]; Est., BLS Monthly Labor Review (pay) [6] |
| 1999 | 245,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., AutoZone [3] |
| 2003 | 236,090 | $24,510 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [4] |
| 2004 | 236,710 | $25,630 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [4] |
| 2005 | 235,190 | $26,450 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [4] |
| 2006 | 234,770 | $27,430 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [4] |
| 2007 | 230,480 | $28,130 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [4] |
| 2008 | 226,530 | $28,520 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [4] |
| 2009 | 208,350 | $28,130 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [4] |
| 2010 | 201,610 | $28,860 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [4] |
| 2011 | 208,800 | $29,350 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [4] |
| 2012 | 218,270 | $29,550 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [4] |
| 2013 | 221,270 | $29,440 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [4] |
| 2014 | 231,240 | $29,440 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [4] |
| 2015 | 238,470 | $29,650 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [4] |
| 2016 | 248,740 | $29,780 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [4] |
| 2017 | 252,770 | $29,380 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [4] |
| 2018 | 254,870 | $30,430 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [4] |
| 2019 | 256,170 | $31,710 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [4] |
| 2020 | 253,870 | $32,460 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [4] |
| 2021 | 265,130 | $34,260 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [4] |
| 2022 | 259,280 | $35,800 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [4] |
| 2023 | 260,770 | $36,860 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [4] |
| 2024 | 265,060 | $37,440 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [4] |
| 2025 | 270,070 | $38,630 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [4] |

## Sources (85)

### Employment series

1. [Automotive part retailer -- Wikipedia (history section: Western Auto 1909, NAPA 1925 formation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_part_retailer), Wikipedia
2. [History of Genuine Parts Company (NAPA network growth 1950s-1960s) -- FundingUniverse](https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/genuine-parts-company-history/), FundingUniverse / Genuine Parts Company corporate history
3. [AutoZone history -- founded July 4, 1979, in Forrest City, Arkansas (AutoZone Inc. company history)](https://about.autozone.com/about-autozone/company-culture/history-timeline), AutoZone, Inc.
4. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

5. [University of Missouri Libraries -- "Prices and Wages by Decade: 1950-1959" (BLS retail trade employee earnings index)](https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/pricesandwages/1950-1959), University of Missouri Libraries / BLS historical sources
6. [BLS Monthly Labor Review -- 1980s decade job growth and industry shifts (retail trade wage context 1979)](https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/1990/article/1980s-a-decade-of-job-growth-and-industry-shifts.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
7. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
8. [BLS OEWS May 2024, national cross-industry estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Tool eras

9. [Hollander Interchange History -- AACA Discussion Forums (founding during the Depression, Hollander family origins)](https://forums.aaca.org/topic/255776-hollander-interchange-history/), Antique Automobile Club of America Forums
10. [Western Auto -- Wikipedia (1909 founding as first aftermarket parts retailer, mail-order origins)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Auto), Wikipedia
11. [National Academies Press -- "Pictures and Parts: Delivering an Automated Automotive Parts Catalog" (microfiche era in dealer parts operations)](https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/765/chapter/5), National Academies Press
12. [Reynolds and Reynolds -- Wikipedia (history: 1960 accounting entry, 1974-1978 modem program, VIM systems 1978-1982)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynolds_and_Reynolds), Wikipedia
13. [CDK Global -- Wikipedia (ADP Dealer Services origin 1973, National Inventory Control System acquisition)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDK_Global), Wikipedia
14. [AutoZone history timeline -- AutoZone.com launch and 2,500-store expansion through the 2000s](https://about.autozone.com/about-autozone/company-culture/history-timeline), AutoZone, Inc.
15. [Symphonize -- 5 Impactful AI Agents for Aftermarket Automotive Parts Businesses (background on digital transformation of parts lookup)](https://www.symphonize.com/tech-blogs/5-impactful-ai-agents-for-aftermarket-automotive-parts-businesses), Symphonize
16. [Envive AI -- How to Leverage AI for Automotive Parts Ecommerce (background on mobile and digital parts lookup evolution)](https://www.envive.ai/post/ai-for-automotive-parts-ecommerce), Envive AI
17. [O'Reilly Auto Parts -- company history and technology investment narrative](https://corporate.oreillyauto.com/history/), O'Reilly Auto Parts
18. [TalkRev / PartsNow.ai -- AI platform launch for heavy-duty truck parts (March 2026)](https://www.overdriveonline.com/maintenance/article/15821809/new-truck-partssourcing-platform-with-ai-voice-chat-visualrecognition-assist), Overdrive Online
19. [Circuitry AI -- Parts Advisor: intelligent parts lookup and recommendations (vendor feature description)](https://circuitry.ai/intelligent-parts-lookup-with-parts-aidvisor), Circuitry AI

### Forecasts and exposure studies

20. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 41-2022 Parts salespersons (2025: 273.3 thousand; 2035: 281.6 thousand; +3.0%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=41-2022&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
21. [Frey & Osborne (2013), "The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerisation?", Appendix (SOC 41-2022 Parts Salespersons: probability 0.98, rank 676 of 702)](https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf), Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford
22. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 41-2022.00, human-rated β 0.343)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

23. [Western Auto -- Wikipedia (1909 founding by George Pepperdine and Don Abnor Davis)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Auto), Wikipedia
24. [NAPA Auto Parts -- Wikipedia (1925 founding, mission statement)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAPA_Auto_Parts), Wikipedia
25. [Automotive Hall of Fame -- Carlyle Fraser inductee profile (GPC founding, 1928)](https://automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/carlyle-fraser/), Automotive Hall of Fame
26. [AutoZone history timeline (1979 founding, early growth milestones)](https://about.autozone.com/about-autozone/company-culture/history-timeline), AutoZone, Inc.
27. [Reynolds and Reynolds -- Wikipedia (VIM systems introduced 1978 and 1982, 45% market share by 1986)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynolds_and_Reynolds), Wikipedia
28. [History of The Pep Boys -- Manny, Moe and Jack (FundingUniverse corporate history)](https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/the-pep-boys-manny-moe-jack-history/), FundingUniverse
29. [TalkRev / PartsNow.ai -- AI platform launch for heavy-duty truck parts (March 2026)](https://www.overdriveonline.com/maintenance/article/15821809/new-truck-partssourcing-platform-with-ai-voice-chat-visualrecognition-assist), Overdrive Online

### Predecessors & successors

30. [Western Auto -- Wikipedia (1909: first aftermarket auto parts retailer, supplanted by general hardware trade)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Auto), Wikipedia
31. [History of the Auto Repair Industry (mechanics increasingly specialized; parts counter as distinct role from repair work)](https://www.shopmonkey.io/blog/history-of-the-auto-repair-industry-shopmonkey), Shopmonkey
32. [O\*NET 41-2022.00 -- occupational relationships and career pathway data](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/41-2022.00), O\*NET / BLS

### Present-day analysis

- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-06-03
- [O\*NET 30.3 — Parts Salespersons (41-2022.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/41-2022.00), accessed 2026-06-03
- [BLS OEWS May 2023 — Parts Salespersons (41-2022)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes412022.htm), accessed 2026-06-03
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Retail Sales Workers (2024-2034 projections)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/retail-sales-workers.htm), accessed 2026-06-03
- [Symphonize — 5 Impactful AI Agents for Aftermarket Automotive Parts Businesses (2025)](https://www.symphonize.com/tech-blogs/5-impactful-ai-agents-for-aftermarket-automotive-parts-businesses), accessed 2026-06-03
- [Envive AI — How to Leverage AI for Automotive Parts Ecommerce (2025)](https://www.envive.ai/post/ai-for-automotive-parts-ecommerce), accessed 2026-06-03
- [TalkRev / PartsNow.ai — AI platform launch for heavy-duty truck parts (March 2026)](https://www.overdriveonline.com/maintenance/article/15821809/new-truck-partssourcing-platform-with-ai-voice-chat-visualrecognition-assist), accessed 2026-06-03
- [Circuitry AI — Parts Advisor: intelligent parts lookup and recommendations](https://circuitry.ai/intelligent-parts-lookup-with-parts-aidvisor), accessed 2026-06-03
- [Toma AI — AI Agent vs BDC: AI handles routine calls and inquiries while humans escalate complex cases (2025)](https://www.toma.com/blog/ai-agent-vs-bdc-best-tools-for-dealerships), accessed 2026-06-22
- [ZipRecruiter — Auto Parts Sales Representative Salary USA (Jul 2025)](https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Auto-Parts-Sales-Representative-Salary), accessed 2026-06-03

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.