New Car Dealers — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the new car dealers industry earns $83,658 per year ($40.22/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$83,658
Avg Annual Pay
1,101,638
Total Employees
21,190
Total Establishments
52
Avg Employees/Business

What Do New Car Dealers Workers Earn?

At $83,658/year (equivalent to $40.22/hour for a full-time worker), new car dealers wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.

Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.

The typical new car dealers business employs 52 people. These are larger operations where staffing represents a major cost center and management complexity.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

6.9%

For the average new car dealers business generating $62.7M/year with 52 employees at $83,658 each, total payroll represents roughly 6.9% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a new car dealersbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $108,755/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 52 employees = ~$4,350,216/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $40.22/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $62.7M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full New Car Dealers revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do new car dealers employees make?
The average new car dealers employee earns $83,658 per year, which is equivalent to $40.22/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the new car dealers industry?
The new car dealers industry employs 1,101,638 workers across 21,190 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 52 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).