Car Sales Executive pay is rarely just one salary figure. Most jobs come with a basic salary and an OTE, with commission making up a large part of the overall earnings.
That can make sales jobs difficult to compare. A £55,000 OTE might be a strong and achievable package in one dealership, but a hopeful headline in another. The difference usually comes down to the commission scheme, sales targets, stock, lead levels and how well the site is trading.
We analysed recent Car Sales Executive vacancies handled by Perfect Placement to show what employers are advertising across the UK and what candidates should check before judging a package.
In short: The average advertised Car Sales Executive basic salary is £22,406 and average OTE is £48,976. The median basic is £21,000 and the median OTE is £50,000. Half of the basic salaries in our data sit between £20,000 and £25,000, while half of the OTE figures sit between £45,000 and £53,000.
What Does a Car Sales Executive Earn?
Across the vacancies reviewed, the average advertised basic salary is £22,406. Average advertised OTE is £48,976.
The median figures sit at £21,000 basic and £50,000 OTE. A median is the middle figure in the data and is useful because a few unusually high or low salaries can pull an average away from the main market.
£22,406
Average basic salary
£48,976
Average OTE
£21,000
Median basic salary
£50,000
Median OTE
The most useful market range is £20,000 to £25,000 basic and £45,000 to £53,000 OTE. Half of the vacancies reviewed sit inside those bands.
The source data contained 665 Car Sales Executive records added between January 2025 and June 2026. One clearly incorrect OTE entry was removed. This left 664 valid OTE records and 663 records with a usable basic salary.
How Does Car Sales Executive Pay Work?
A Car Sales Executive package normally has two main parts: the guaranteed basic salary and the commission or bonus earned through performance.
Basic Salary
The basic salary is the guaranteed part of the package. In our data, half of the advertised basic salaries fall between £20,000 and £25,000.
A higher basic gives more income security. A lower basic may still work where the dealership has a strong commission scheme, steady lead flow and enough stock to give the team a fair chance of earning well.
OTE
OTE means on-target earnings. It is the total amount someone could earn by hitting the targets set out in the pay plan. It is not guaranteed salary.
The median OTE in our data is £50,000. That means £50,000 sits in the middle of the advertised market we reviewed. It does not mean every £50,000 OTE is equally achievable.
Commission and Bonus
Where a positive bonus amount was shown in the data, the average advertised bonus is £27,516 and the median is £26,000.
Commission can be based on:
- Units sold
- Gross profit
- New or used vehicle targets
- Finance introductions
- Warranty, insurance or add-on products
- Customer satisfaction scores
- Individual or team performance
- Manufacturer targets
The exact scheme matters. A good salesperson can still struggle to reach OTE if the site has poor stock, weak leads or targets that do not match the local market.
What Affects a Car Sales Executive Salary?
Two jobs can advertise the same OTE but offer very different chances of earning it. The figures only make sense when you understand what is happening behind them.
The main things that affect earnings are:
- New or used cars: the sales process, margin and commission opportunity can differ.
- Volume or prestige: volume sites may focus on units, while prestige or specialist sales can involve longer buying journeys and different margin expectations.
- Stock: a salesperson cannot deliver cars that are not available or ready.
- Leads: enquiry levels and the way leads are shared can make a major difference.
- Targets: units, gross, finance and customer satisfaction may all affect commission.
- Site performance: a busy, well-run dealership usually gives the team a better platform to sell.
- Experience: a proven performer may be offered a stronger basic, guarantee or pay plan.
- Hours and rota: Sundays, weekends and days off are part of the real value of the job.
- Company car: the car scheme, tax and any employee contribution should be checked.
Brand name alone does not decide whether a package is good. The best-paid role on paper can quickly become less attractive if the targets are unrealistic or the site does not have the stock and leads to support them.
Car Sales Executive Salary by Region
Car Sales Executive pay varies across the UK. The table below includes regions with at least 10 records in the supplied data. Areas with only a handful of vacancies were left out because one unusual package could make the average misleading.
| Region | Average basic | Median basic | Average OTE | Median OTE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £25,863 | £26,322 | £51,521 | £50,000 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £25,465 | £23,000 | £49,600 | £45,000 |
| North West | £24,354 | £24,000 | £52,000 | £55,000 |
| South Wales | £24,208 | £20,000 | £47,102 | £45,000 |
| Greater London | £23,195 | £24,000 | £53,269 | £50,000 |
| West Midlands | £22,963 | £22,000 | £47,988 | £45,000 |
| East Midlands | £22,404 | £22,000 | £52,500 | £50,000 |
| South East | £21,570 | £20,000 | £49,530 | £50,000 |
| South West | £21,289 | £20,000 | £45,868 | £45,000 |
| East of England | £21,283 | £20,000 | £51,709 | £50,000 |
Greater London has the highest average OTE in the table at £53,269. The East Midlands follows at £52,500, with the North West at £52,000.
Scotland has the highest average basic salary at £25,863, although the sample is much smaller than the South East and South West. That is why regional figures should be used as a guide rather than a fixed local rate.
What Changed Between 2025 and 2026?
The average basic salary across the 2025 vacancies is £22,321. For vacancies added during the first half of 2026, it is £22,635.
Average OTE moved from £48,621 during 2025 to £49,947 in the first half of 2026. That is a modest increase rather than a dramatic jump.
The mix of regions and employers changes over time, so this should not be treated as proof that every Sales Executive package has risen. It does show that advertised OTE continues to sit around the £50,000 mark, while basic salaries remain mainly in the low £20,000s.
What Should Employers Offer?
A strong Car Sales Executive advert needs to explain the job behind the figures. Writing “£60,000 OTE” is not enough if the candidate cannot see how the team gets there.
Employers should make the following clear:
- Basic salary
- Realistic OTE
- Whether commission is capped
- Main sales targets
- How leads are shared
- New, used or mixed sales
- Weekend and Sunday rota
- Company car or vehicle scheme
- Any guarantee for a new starter
- Training and progression
If the OTE is real, say what the current team is achieving. If the basic is below the main £20,000 to £25,000 band, explain what makes the commission opportunity worth considering.
A clear advert saves time. Candidates can judge the role properly before applying, and the employer is less likely to lose them when the pay plan is explained at interview.
Perfect Placement provides specialist Car Dealership recruitment support for employers hiring Sales Executives and other dealership staff.
What Should Candidates Check?
Do not compare Car Sales Executive jobs using OTE alone. Ask enough questions to understand whether the number is realistic at that particular site.
Before accepting a role, check:
- How many people in the team reached OTE last year
- How commission is worked out
- Whether commission is paid on orders or delivered units
- What happens if a customer cancels
- Expected monthly units
- How online and showroom leads are shared
- Current stock position
- Finance and add-on targets
- When commission is paid
- Whether there is a guarantee while you build a pipeline
- Weekend hours and the Sunday rota
- Company car costs and tax
A slightly lower OTE can be the better job if the site is busy, the targets are fair and the pay plan is easy to understand. A bigger number is only better when there is a realistic route to earning it.
Browse current Car Sales Executive jobs to compare live packages. For more information about the role itself, read our Car Sales Executive Career Guide.
Related Salary Guides
- Automotive Salary Insights 2026
- Vehicle Technician Salary Guide 2026
- Service Advisor Salary Guide 2026
About This Salary Data
This salary insight was prepared using recent Perfect Placement vacancy data covering advertised Car Sales Executive roles across the UK. Blank, zero and clearly invalid salary entries were excluded from salary calculations to avoid distorting the results.
Ashley Camies
Marketing & Automation Manager
As Marketing & Automation Manager at Perfect Placement, Ashley Camies has 14 years of automotive recruitment experience. Since 2011, she has supported motor trade employers and candidates across the UK. She specialises in strengthening recruitment processes and candidate engagement, providing informed commentary on hiring trends and talent market strategy based on over a decade of sector insight.
Car Sales Executive Salary FAQs
What is the average Car Sales Executive salary?
The average advertised basic salary in our data is £22,406. The median basic salary is £21,000.
What is the average Car Sales Executive OTE?
The average advertised OTE is £48,976 and the median is £50,000. Half of the OTE figures reviewed sit between £45,000 and £53,000.
What does OTE mean in car sales?
OTE means on-target earnings. It is the total amount someone could earn by meeting the targets in the commission or bonus scheme. It is not guaranteed salary.
How much commission does a Car Sales Executive earn?
Where a positive bonus amount was advertised, the average is £27,516 and the median is £26,000. Actual commission depends on the pay plan and individual performance.
Is £50,000 a realistic OTE?
£50,000 is the median OTE in our vacancy data, so it sits in the middle of the advertised market reviewed. Whether it is realistic in an individual dealership depends on targets, stock, leads and the commission scheme.
Which region pays the highest Car Sales Executive salary?
Among regions with at least 10 records, Scotland has the highest average basic salary at £25,863. Greater London has the highest average OTE at £53,269.
Should I choose the job with the highest OTE?
Not automatically. Check whether the current team reaches the figure, how leads are shared, what stock is available and how the commission plan works. A lower but achievable OTE can be worth more than a larger headline that few people reach.
Need Help with a Car Sales Salary or Vacancy?
Whether you are hiring a Car Sales Executive or looking at your next move, our motor trade recruitment team can help you understand the current market.
Last updated: July 2026