At some point during every new car deal, usually right after the fourth trip to the sales manager’s desk, someone wonders how the person selling the car actually gets paid. The answer is less mysterious than the showroom dance itself, but it’s not simple either.

According to Indeed’s U.S. data updated in December 2025, the average new car salesperson earns about $81,900 a year. That figure includes base pay and commissions and reflects a national snapshot, not a promise.

Geography, brand, pay plan, and experience all matter. A lot

At most new car dealerships, salespeople earn a modest base salary or short-term guarantee, then live on commissions.

Those commissions are typically tied to the profit on each vehicle, not just the sale price. Sell more cars. Sell them profitably. Hit monthly quotas. Miss them, and the math gets uncomfortable fast.

Indeed reports that location alone can swing pay wildly. In Seattle, Washington, average earnings top $100,000. In Concord, California, reported averages climb well past $140,000. 

Meanwhile, other major metros hover closer to the national mean. Same job. Very different outcomes.

Industry veterans back that up. On Reddit’s r/CarSalesTraining forum, working salespeople explained that a weak performer might scrape together $3,000 a month, while a strong one at the same store can pull in $18,000 or more during a good stretch.

Several said $70,000 a year remains a realistic median at an average dealership. Others reported six-figure incomes after a few years, especially at high-volume or luxury stores.

Average salespeople wave out 8 to 12 cars a month

CarEdge’s 2025 breakdown adds important context. A new salesperson often starts with a short-term guarantee around $3,000 a month before moving to commission-heavy pay.

Average performers selling eight to twelve cars a month may land between $3,000 and $6,000 monthly. Top producers selling 25 or more cars can reach $150,000 a year or far beyond, though they are rare…and usually exhausted.

Most commissions land around $400 to $500 per car once dealership expenses are factored in. Luxury brands can pay more because profit margins are higher, but entry standards are tighter and pressure is constant.

The job clearly rewards effort, skill, and consistency. It also punishes slow months, bad inventory, and global events that mess with supply chains.

Selling cars can be the easiest hard money or the hardest easy money in the building. The paycheck depends on which version you show up for.