Used Car Dealers — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the used car dealers industry earns $60,100 per year ($28.89/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$60,100
Avg Annual Pay
171,122
Total Employees
26,837
Total Establishments
6
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Used Car Dealers Workers Earn?

At $60,100/year (equivalent to $28.89/hour for a full-time worker), used car dealers wages are near the national average of ~$65,000.

The typical used car dealers business employs 6 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

7.5%

For the average used car dealers business generating $4.8M/year with 6 employees at $60,100 each, total payroll represents roughly 7.5% 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 used car dealersbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $78,130/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 6 employees = ~$360,600/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $28.89/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $4.8M/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 Used Car Dealers revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do used car dealers employees make?
The average used car dealers employee earns $60,100 per year, which is equivalent to $28.89/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the used car dealers industry?
The used car dealers industry employs 171,122 workers across 26,837 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 6 employees.

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