How much does an automobile clerk earn?
Automobile clerks advise customers on new and used cars, calculate offers and support financing, registration and handover – in dealerships, at importers or in fleet business. Typical tasks include needs analysis, sales talks, order processing in the dealer management system and coordination with workshop, parts store and insurers; the dual apprenticeship usually takes three years. Gross pay depends on region, company size, commission models, specialisation (sales, aftersales, back office) and experience. As a guide, qualified professionals in Germany in 2026 often earn about €3,100–€3,700 gross per month; during apprenticeship typical ranges are around €950–€1,280.
Salary by region (gross/month)
Guide figures as of 2026. The apprenticeship column means the dual training as Automobilkaufmann/-frau; qualified means working professionals. Actual pay depends on collective agreements, employer, region, base salary and commission, specialisation and experience and is not a guarantee.
Further training options
Job and everyday work
An automobile clerk combines advice, sales and commercial processing: clarifying customer needs, presenting vehicles, negotiating prices and terms, and steering orders and handovers. Everyday work includes showroom and phone, DMS and CRM, coordination with workshop and registration, and documentation – often with sales targets and high demands on service quality, transparency and reliability.
- Advise customers on new and used cars, analyse needs and organise test drives.
- Calculate offers, explain financing, leasing and insurance options and prepare purchase contracts.
- Enter orders in the dealer management system, coordinate delivery dates and support vehicle handovers.
- Coordinate with workshop, parts store, registration and insurers and resolve complaints and service queries.
- Deliver sales targets and CRM measures and document stock care and follow-up.
- Keep product, legal and data-protection knowledge up to date and mentor apprentices when needed.
