Automotive salaries are not moving in one neat line across the UK motor trade. Some roles are being pushed upwards by technical skill shortages, regional competition and growing candidate expectations, while others depend much more heavily on bonus, OTE, employer type and location.
This salary insight guide uses recent Perfect Placement vacancy data to look at what employers are advertising across the UK automotive market. The data covers roles across workshops, service departments, sales teams, parts departments, bodyshops, commercial vehicle businesses, dealerships, independent garages and senior management positions.
It is designed to give employers and candidates a practical view of current salary patterns in the motor trade, based on real advertised vacancy information rather than broad national guesswork.
In short: Across the vacancy data reviewed, the average advertised basic salary is £37,317, while the average advertised OTE is £44,621. Workshop, HGV, Bodyshop, mobile service and management roles continue to command some of the strongest advertised packages, while service, sales and parts salaries vary more heavily by employer type, location and bonus structure.
What this salary guide covers
This guide is based on Perfect Placement vacancy data covering UK automotive jobs across a wide range of employers and role types.
The dataset includes advertised roles by location, region, job title, simplified job title, job type, business type, basic salary, OTE and vacancy status. That makes it useful for understanding not only what different roles are paying, but also how salary packages change by region, employer type and department.
The salary figures should be read as advertised vacancy insight. They reflect the salaries employers are putting into the market when recruiting, rather than a guaranteed national average for every person currently working in the role.
That distinction matters. A candidate who has been in the same role for several years may not be earning the same as a newly advertised vacancy. Likewise, an employer advertising below the current market may find it harder to attract suitable applicants, even if their package was competitive a few years ago.
How we analysed the salary data
This guide is based on recent Perfect Placement vacancy data covering advertised automotive roles across the UK. Blank and zero salary entries were excluded from the salary calculations to avoid distorting the results, leaving close to 5,000 valid salary records across UK automotive vacancies in the last 12 months.
Where averages and medians are shown, both figures have been included to give a more balanced view of the market. Averages can be affected by high-value senior vacancies, commission-led roles or unusual packages, while medians help show the more typical advertised salary point within the data.
Salary figures in this guide should be viewed as recruitment market insight. They show what employers are advertising through recent vacancies, not a fixed salary expectation for every candidate or employer in the sector.
Why automotive salaries are under pressure
The salary patterns in this guide sit within a wider recruitment market where automotive employers are competing for technical, commercial and customer-facing skills. The Institute of the Motor Industry has warned that the sector faces a growing skills challenge, with experienced workers retiring and new technologies such as electric vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems increasing the need for future-ready skills. Recent reporting has also highlighted estimates of thousands of current vacancies and a future shortfall in EV-trained technicians.
Wider labour market research also points to growing demand for practical, job-specific skills in emerging and technical roles. Research using UK online job vacancy data has found evidence of rising skill-based hiring in high-demand areas such as green and technology-related roles, reinforcing the importance of practical capability as employers compete for specialist talent.
UK automotive salary overview
Across the valid salary records reviewed, the average advertised basic salary is £37,317 and the median advertised basic salary is £37,000. The average advertised OTE is £44,621, with a median OTE of £44,000.
The closeness between average and median basic salary suggests that the wider market is relatively consistent around the high £30,000s. OTE shows a slightly wider uplift, which reflects the influence of sales, management, bodyshop and mobile service roles where performance-related or bonus-linked earnings are more common.
Workshop roles make up the largest section of the data and remain one of the strongest areas of automotive recruitment activity. These roles have an average basic salary of £38,812 and an average OTE of £43,498. Bodyshop roles show stronger average advertised pay, with an average basic salary of £44,320 and average OTE of £49,471. Mobile service roles also show high advertised earning potential, with an average basic salary of £39,731 and average OTE of £50,553.
What the salary data tells us
The strongest pattern in the data is that skill-led roles continue to command the most competitive advertised salaries. Bodyshop, HGV, Master Technician, Diagnostic Technician and mobile service roles all sit above the overall average, which reflects how difficult these candidates can be to replace once they are experienced and settled.
The data also shows why employers need to look beyond a single salary figure. Sales roles, for example, have a much lower average basic salary than many technical roles, but a far higher advertised OTE. That means candidates are not comparing these jobs in the same way. A Vehicle Technician is likely to focus heavily on guaranteed pay, overtime and workshop conditions, while a Sales Executive will usually want to understand commission structure, lead quality and whether the advertised OTE is realistic.
For employers, the message is simple: the salary package needs to match how candidates judge the role. A strong OTE may help attract sales candidates, but it will not fix a weak basic salary in a shortage-led technical role. In workshop, HGV and bodyshop recruitment, the guaranteed salary often does the heavy lifting.
Salary insights by automotive job family
Workshop salaries
Workshop salaries remain one of the strongest and most active areas of the automotive recruitment market. Across workshop vacancies in the dataset, the average advertised basic salary is £38,812 and the average advertised OTE is £43,498.
Vehicle Technician is the largest individual role group in the data, giving this section a particularly strong evidence base. The average advertised basic salary for Vehicle Technicians is £38,502, with a median basic salary of £38,000. Average advertised OTE is £43,549, with a median OTE of £42,660.
More specialist workshop roles sit higher. HGV Technician vacancies show an average basic salary of £44,081 and average OTE of £47,901. Diagnostic Technicians average £41,375 basic and £46,353 OTE, while Master Technicians average £44,817 basic and £50,170 OTE.
For employers, this means workshop salary benchmarking needs to be kept current. A package that worked two years ago may not attract the same level of technician today, particularly in areas where independent garages, dealerships, commercial vehicle operators and mobile repair businesses are all competing for the same people.
For candidates, the basic salary is only part of the decision. Overtime, bonus, working hours, Saturday rota, brand training, MOT licence use, diagnostic exposure and progression routes can all make a meaningful difference to the real value of a workshop role.
HGV and commercial vehicle salaries
HGV and commercial vehicle roles are among the strongest technical salary areas in the data. HGV Technician vacancies show an average advertised basic salary of £44,081 and average advertised OTE of £47,901. The median basic salary is £45,000, with a median OTE of £50,000.
Commercial Vehicle Technician roles also show competitive pay, with an average basic salary of £39,691 and average OTE of £43,933. LCV Technician vacancies average £39,086 basic and £44,630 OTE.
This is an area where employers should be especially careful with salary positioning. Commercial vehicle candidates often compare opportunities across dealerships, fleets, rental businesses, leasing companies, logistics operators and mobile maintenance providers. A weak package can quickly reduce the number of suitable applications.
Service department salaries
Service Advisor and service department roles remain an important part of dealership and independent garage recruitment. Across service department vacancies in the data, the average advertised basic salary is £30,714 and average advertised OTE is £35,265.
For Service Advisor roles specifically, the average advertised basic salary is £30,619, with a median basic salary of £30,000. Average OTE is £35,332, with a median OTE of £35,000.
Service Advisor roles often include a basic salary and an OTE figure, with bonus linked to department performance, service sales, customer satisfaction or other targets. The strongest packages are usually those where the bonus is realistic, clearly explained and supported by a well-run department.
For candidates, the key question is how the bonus works. A slightly lower basic salary with a strong, realistic bonus may still be attractive, but only where the OTE is achievable and clearly explained.
For employers, Service Advisor vacancies need to be sold properly. Candidates will look at salary, but they will also care about customer volume, workshop pressure, management support, rota, brand environment and whether the role is genuinely achievable day to day.
Sales salaries and OTE
Sales roles need to be read differently from most other automotive jobs because the advertised OTE can be far higher than the basic salary.
Across sales vacancies in the dataset, the average advertised basic salary is £24,834 and the average advertised OTE is £50,200. This gap reflects how heavily automotive sales packages rely on commission and performance-related earnings.
Car Sales Executive is the largest sales role group in the data. The average advertised basic salary is £22,766, with a median basic salary of £21,000. Average advertised OTE is £49,349, with a median OTE of £50,000.
Commercial Sales Executive roles show a higher average package, with an average basic salary of £27,506 and average OTE of £54,986. Sales Manager roles show an average basic salary of £36,206 and average OTE of £59,735.
Candidates should always look beyond the headline OTE. The most important questions are how commission is calculated, how many units are realistically sold, whether targets are achievable, what support is in place and how consistent earnings have been for the existing team.
Employers should avoid relying on vague OTE claims. Strong sales candidates are usually alert to the difference between possible and probable. A transparent earning structure will usually perform better than a shiny number with no explanation behind it.
Parts department salaries
Parts Advisor and Parts Sales Advisor roles tend to sit in a steadier salary band than sales, management, workshop or bodyshop roles. Across parts vacancies in the data, the average advertised basic salary is £30,406 and average advertised OTE is £33,671.
For Parts Advisor roles specifically, the average advertised basic salary is £30,276, with a median basic salary of £30,000. Average advertised OTE is £33,240, with a median OTE of £33,000.
Parts roles can be overlooked, but experienced candidates are valuable. Strong parts knowledge affects workshop efficiency, customer service, stock control and profitability. Employers that need trade parts, commercial vehicle parts or specialist parts experience may need to pay more competitively than a generic salary benchmark suggests.
Bodyshop salaries
Bodyshop salaries are one of the strongest areas of the data. Across bodyshop vacancies, the average advertised basic salary is £44,320 and the average advertised OTE is £49,471. The median basic salary is £45,000, with a median OTE of £50,000.
Panel Beater roles show an average basic salary of £47,892 and average OTE of £53,584. MET Technicians average £46,402 basic and £51,923 OTE. Paint Sprayers average £43,004 basic and £46,083 OTE, while Vehicle Damage Assessors average £43,646 basic and £48,589 OTE.
Salary in the bodyshop market depends heavily on skill level, repair type, employer expectations, site volume, bonus structure and location. Candidates with ATA accreditation, strong estimating knowledge or proven accident repair experience are often especially valuable.
For employers, bodyshop recruitment needs realistic salary benchmarking. Skilled accident repair candidates are often in short supply, and a weak package can be exposed quickly when similar employers nearby are advertising stronger salaries.
For candidates, salary is important, but so are bonus structure, repair type, workload, equipment, manufacturer approvals, team stability and management expectations.
Mobile service salaries
Mobile service roles show some of the strongest OTE potential in the data. Across mobile service vacancies, the average advertised basic salary is £39,731 and the average advertised OTE is £50,553. The median basic salary is £38,625, while the median OTE is £52,000.
Roadside Vehicle Technician roles are a major part of this category and show an average basic salary of £39,911 and average OTE of £53,767. Mobile Vehicle Technician roles show an average basic salary of £39,782 and average OTE of £44,896.
These roles often require candidates who can work independently, manage time effectively, diagnose faults away from a traditional workshop and deliver a strong customer experience on the road. That combination of technical skill and autonomy helps explain the stronger OTE figures.
Management salaries
Management salaries vary more widely than most other automotive job families because responsibility levels differ heavily. Across management vacancies in the dataset, the average advertised basic salary is £44,215 and the average advertised OTE is £57,113.
General Manager roles sit at the top of the data by average basic salary where there is a meaningful sample size, with an average basic salary of £61,333 and average OTE of £83,889. Bodyshop Manager roles average £54,141 basic and £66,812 OTE. General Sales Manager roles average £48,654 basic and £69,154 OTE.
For employers, management packages need to reflect commercial accountability. If the role carries responsibility for team performance, customer experience, productivity, profit, manufacturer standards or operational delivery, the salary needs to match that level of expectation.
Basic salary vs OTE
Basic salary and OTE should not be treated as the same thing.
Basic salary is the guaranteed amount advertised for the role. OTE, or on-target earnings, is the expected total package if bonus, commission or performance-related earnings are achieved.
Across the salary records reviewed, the average basic salary is £37,317, while the average OTE is £44,621. In simple terms, advertised earning potential is around £7,304 higher than guaranteed salary on average, although that gap changes significantly by role type.
The size of that gap varies heavily by role. Car Sales Executive roles show an average basic salary of £22,766 and average OTE of £49,349, meaning OTE is central to how these packages are presented. Service Advisor roles show a smaller gap, with an average basic of £30,619 and average OTE of £35,332. Workshop roles show an average basic of £38,812 and average OTE of £43,498, making the guaranteed salary much more central to the package.
For candidates, the important question is not simply what the OTE is. It is how realistic the OTE is.
For employers, this matters because candidates are more cautious about inflated earnings claims. If the OTE is genuine, explain how it is achieved. If it depends on unusual performance, make that clear. A realistic and transparent package is usually easier to recruit for than a headline number that falls apart under questioning.
Highest-paying automotive roles
The strongest advertised salary areas are usually roles where employers need specialist skill, commercial responsibility or experienced candidates who are difficult to replace.
Looking at roles with a meaningful sample size in the vacancy data, the highest average basic salaries are led by senior management, bodyshop and specialist technical roles.
| Role area | Average basic salary | Average OTE | Why packages are competitive |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Manager | £61,333 | £83,889 | Commercial accountability, team leadership and business performance responsibility |
| Bodyshop Manager | £54,141 | £66,812 | Site performance, workflow, profitability and repair team leadership |
| General Sales Manager | £48,654 | £69,154 | Sales performance, team management and dealership revenue responsibility |
| Panel Beater | £47,892 | £53,584 | Practical repair skill, speed, accuracy and accident repair demand |
| MET Technician | £46,402 | £51,923 | Specialist mechanical, electrical and trim repair knowledge |
| Workshop Manager | £46,250 | £50,875 | Workshop productivity, technician management and operational delivery |
| Master Technician | £44,817 | £50,170 | Advanced diagnostic skill, brand training and technical leadership |
| HGV Technician | £44,081 | £47,901 | Commercial vehicle skill, shift patterns and candidate shortage |
| Vehicle Damage Assessor | £43,646 | £48,589 | Estimating skill, repair knowledge and insurer/bodyshop process experience |
| Paint Sprayer | £43,004 | £46,083 | Specialist repair skill, paint quality and accident repair demand |
Regional automotive salary trends
Regional salary differences are visible across the automotive market, but they need to be interpreted carefully. A region with a high average salary may have more senior, technical or bodyshop roles in the data. A region with a lower average may have more entry-level, administration or service vacancies.
That is why regional salary benchmarking should always be read alongside role type. The table below shows the main UK regions with meaningful sample sizes in the vacancy data.
| Region | Average basic salary | Median basic salary | Average OTE | Median OTE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South East | £38,147 | £38,000 | £44,016 | £43,840 |
| South West | £35,552 | £35,000 | £44,085 | £43,840 |
| East of England | £37,744 | £37,000 | £45,069 | £44,000 |
| North West | £38,364 | £36,250 | £45,538 | £45,000 |
| West Midlands | £36,501 | £36,250 | £43,949 | £43,500 |
| Greater London | £38,475 | £37,590 | £46,217 | £45,000 |
| East Midlands | £38,154 | £38,000 | £46,034 | £45,000 |
| Wales | £32,949 | £32,050 | £42,668 | £40,000 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £38,927 | £38,000 | £45,530 | £45,000 |
| Scotland | £38,823 | £40,000 | £46,916 | £48,000 |
| North East | £37,737 | £38,000 | £43,758 | £43,900 |
| Northern Ireland | £34,237 | £35,000 | £44,322 | £43,320 |
The South East has the largest regional evidence base in the data, with an average basic salary of £38,147 and average OTE of £44,016. The South West shows an average basic salary of £35,552 and average OTE of £44,085.
Greater London shows one of the stronger regional OTE figures, with an average advertised OTE of £46,217. Scotland also shows a strong OTE average of £46,916, although this should be read alongside the mix of roles advertised there.
What this means for employers
Salary benchmarking should be treated as an active recruitment tool, not an occasional admin exercise.
The automotive market changes quickly. When a role is difficult to fill, salary is rarely the only reason, but it is often the first barrier candidates notice. If a vacancy sits below the going rate for that role and region, the advert may struggle before anyone even speaks to the recruiter.
The data shows clear pressure around technical, bodyshop, HGV and mobile service roles. Bodyshop roles average £44,320 basic and £49,471 OTE, while mobile service roles average £39,731 basic and £50,553 OTE. HGV Technician roles average £44,081 basic and £47,901 OTE. These are not areas where employers can afford to benchmark casually.
For sales, service and management roles, OTE needs to be presented clearly. Sales roles show an average basic salary of £24,834 and average OTE of £50,200, while management roles show an average basic salary of £44,215 and average OTE of £57,113. If the earning potential is strong, explain why. If the basic salary is lower because the bonus structure is genuinely achievable, make that obvious.
Employers should also avoid relying too heavily on old salary expectations. A package that worked in 2022 may not be enough in 2026, especially where local competitors, independent garages, commercial vehicle operators or specialist repair businesses are advertising more aggressively.
What this means for candidates
Candidates should look at the full package, not just the biggest number in the advert.
A higher OTE can be attractive, but only if it is realistic. A stronger basic salary can offer more stability, but it may come with less bonus potential. A role with slightly lower pay may still be worthwhile if it offers better training, hours, progression or long-term career value.
The data shows why this matters. Car Sales Executive roles average £22,766 basic but £49,349 OTE, so candidates need to understand the commission structure. Service Advisor roles average £30,619 basic and £35,332 OTE, so the gap is smaller and the working environment may be just as important as the bonus. Vehicle Technician roles average £38,502 basic and £43,549 OTE, meaning the guaranteed salary is a major part of the package.
When comparing automotive salaries, candidates should look at:
- Basic salary
- OTE or bonus structure
- Overtime availability
- Hours and rota
- Saturday working
- Brand or manufacturer training
- MOT licence use
- EV or hybrid training
- Diagnostic exposure
- Team structure
- Commute and location
- Progression opportunities
A good automotive package is not always the one with the loudest headline salary. It is the one that matches your experience, gives you realistic earning potential and supports the direction you want your career to move in.
Related salary guides
Use these guides to explore more detailed salary insight by role and region.
About this salary insight
Ashley Camies
This salary insight was prepared using recent Perfect Placement vacancy data covering advertised automotive roles across the UK. Blank and zero salary entries were excluded from salary calculations to avoid distorting the results.
Ashley Camies is the Marketing & Automation Manager at Perfect Placement, with 14 years of automotive recruitment experience. Perfect Placement has supported motor trade employers and candidates across the UK since 2011, specialising in strengthening recruitment processes and candidate engagement, and providing informed commentary on hiring trends and talent market strategy based on over a decade of sector insight.
FAQs
What is the average salary in the UK automotive industry?
Across the Perfect Placement vacancy data reviewed, the average advertised basic salary is £37,317 and the median advertised basic salary is £37,000. The average advertised OTE is £44,621, with a median OTE of £44,000. These figures are based on recent advertised automotive vacancies after blank and zero salary entries were removed.
Which automotive jobs pay the most?
In this vacancy data, the highest average basic salaries are seen in senior management, bodyshop and specialist technical roles. General Manager roles average £61,333 basic and £83,889 OTE, Bodyshop Manager roles average £54,141 basic and £66,812 OTE, and Panel Beater roles average £47,892 basic and £53,584 OTE.
What is the average Vehicle Technician salary?
Vehicle Technician roles show an average advertised basic salary of £38,502 and an average advertised OTE of £43,549. The median basic salary is £38,000 and the median OTE is £42,660.
What is the average Service Advisor salary?
Service Advisor roles show an average advertised basic salary of £30,619 and an average advertised OTE of £35,332. The median basic salary is £30,000 and the median OTE is £35,000.
What is the average Car Sales Executive salary?
Car Sales Executive roles show an average advertised basic salary of £22,766 and an average advertised OTE of £49,349. This reflects the commission-led structure of many dealership sales roles.
What is OTE in automotive jobs?
OTE stands for on-target earnings. It is the total amount a candidate could earn if bonus or commission targets are achieved. It is common in sales, management and some service roles, but candidates should always check how realistic the OTE is.
Why do automotive salaries vary by region?
Automotive salaries vary by region because of candidate availability, cost of living, employer competition, local industry demand and the mix of roles being advertised. A region with more HGV, bodyshop or senior management roles may show higher average salaries than a region with more service or administration vacancies.
Are dealership salaries different from independent garage salaries?
They can be. Dealership roles may offer brand training, structured bonus schemes and manufacturer-backed progression, while independent garages may compete through higher basic salaries, broader job variety or different working conditions. The right comparison depends on the role and local market.
How often should employers review automotive salaries?
Employers should review salary levels whenever they recruit for a role, and more frequently for shortage areas such as Vehicle Technician, HGV Technician, MOT Tester, Panel Beater, Paint Sprayer and MET Technician. Annual salary benchmarking may not be enough in competitive local markets.
Why use Perfect Placement salary insight?
Perfect Placement works exclusively within the UK motor trade, supporting automotive employers and candidates across dealership, independent garage, bodyshop, commercial vehicle, leasing, rental, parts, service and sales environments. That sector focus means our salary insight is based on the roles employers are actively trying to fill and the candidate expectations our recruitment teams see every day.
For employers, this helps turn salary benchmarking into a practical hiring tool. For candidates, it gives a clearer view of how advertised packages compare across different automotive roles, regions and employer types.
Need help benchmarking automotive salaries?
Whether you are hiring for your team or considering your next move, our automotive recruitment specialists can help you understand what the market is really doing.