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Auto Parts Salesperson, Materials Technician, Parts Picker, Salesperson, Warehouse Worker
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
In Alberta, the parts technician trade has the following branches:
For simplicity, the branches are referred to as parts technician and materials technician in this profile.
Parts technicians manage and dispense parts inventories, and may be responsible for stock handling, identifying and cataloguing parts and assemblies, ordering, receiving, inspecting, sorting, or pricing and selling parts. They may work with parts from the original manufacturer or other manufacturers of automotive, heavy duty, farm implement, industrial, recreational vehicle, plumbing, electrical or other types of equipment.
Duties and responsibilities vary depending on the size of the wholesale, retail or warehouse distribution business and the types of parts involved. Some businesses specialize in one line of equipment such as a particular line of automotive parts; others stock parts for several makes of machinery and hardware supplies.
In general, parts technicians:
Materials technicians are involved in the movement of materials in a wide variety of industries including agriculture, forestry, health, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, transportation and retail industries. They may be employed in many different settings and work with a wide variety of materials. Their duties and responsibilities can vary considerably from one job to another.
In general, materials technicians:
Parts technicians and materials technicians may work indoors or outdoors. Indoor environments include offices, warehouses and storerooms where large inventories are kept, often on rows of shelves or in bins. Working hours vary depending on the industry. Most work a 40-hour week and those in large facilities may work shifts.
The work can be physically demanding. Materials technicians often are on their feet all day and lift items that weigh up to 18 kilograms.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in compiling information to maintain internal manual or computerized record-keeping systems; and in coding goods
Interest in operating computers to keep records; and in unpacking and routing goods to appropriate storage areas; may operate fork lifts, hand trucks and other equipment to load, unload, transport and store goods
Interest in overseeing loading and unloading of goods from trucks and other conveyances
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Interest in copying information to prepare requisition orders for parts and supplies, and to maintain records of orders and amount, kind and location of parts and supplies on hand
Interest in operating computerized inventory systems; and in keeping records using manual systems
Interest in speaking with customers to sell spare and replacement parts for motor vehicles, machinery and equipment in retail settings and to advise retail customers and internal users on appropriateness of parts, supplies and materials requested
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Parts technicians need:
They should enjoy variety and working with people.
Materials technicians need:
They should enjoy taking a methodical approach to their work, operating handling equipment and keeping detailed records.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 104 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Oct 07, 2023 and Apr 19, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Oversee loading and unloading of goods | 86 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Unpack goods received | 80 |
| Tasks: Inspect and verify incoming goods against invoices or other documents | 79 |
| Tasks: Maintain internal record-keeping system | 79 |
| Tasks: Determine method of shipment | 73 |
| Tasks: Record shortages and reject damaged goods | 72 |
| Tasks: Pack goods to be shipped | 70 |
| Tasks: Prepare bills of lading, invoices and other shipping documents | 67 |
| Tasks: Assemble containers and crates | 56 |
| Tasks: Schedule distribution of goods | 56 |
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 103 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Oct 07, 2023 and Apr 19, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
| Construction Specialization: Team player | 72 |
|---|---|
| Attention to detail | 71 |
| Tasks: Receive, unpack and sort incoming parts, supplies and materials | 71 |
| Tasks: Maintain records on inventory control system | 69 |
| Tasks: Identify, label and catalogue items received | 68 |
| Construction Specialization: Reliability | 67 |
| Construction Specialization: Dependability | 64 |
| Tasks: Clean and maintain office, supply area or warehouse | 62 |
| Tasks: Process incoming requisitions | 62 |
| Construction Specialization: Organized | 60 |
To work in Alberta, a parts technician or materials technician must be ONE of the following:
To register with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training, apprentices must find a suitable employer who is willing to hire and train them. They must also meet ONE of the following:
Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates. Some employers require parts or materials technicians to have experience working with the types of product sold (for example, automotive or farm implement parts) so they can answer customer questions about product use.
The term of apprenticeship for parts technicians is 3 years (three 12- month periods) that include:
The term of apprenticeship for materials technicians is 3 years (three 12- month periods) that include:
Applicants who have related training or work experience may be eligible for admission, credit, or certification. Credits may reduce the period of apprenticeship.
High school students can earn credits toward apprenticeship training and a high school diploma at the same time through the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) .
Parts technician apprentices may take the interprovincial exam in the final period of their apprenticeship training to earn a Red Seal (certification recognized in most parts of Canada).
Classroom instruction is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. For more information, see the Apprenticeship Training Catalogue.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
Parts technicians perform ordering, warehousing, inventory control and sales of parts. For more information, see the Designated Trades Profile section of Alberta’s Tradesecrets website.
Under Alberta’s Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act [pdf], you do not have to be certified if you are self-employed or work for an employer who is satisfied that you have the skills and knowledge expected of a journeyperson certified by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. To learn the trade, you must become a registered apprentice.
For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Parts Technician.
Certified tradespeople who want to build their business skills may obtain an Achievement in Business Competencies (Blue Seal) Certificate from Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Parts technicians are employed by wholesale and retail businesses, and warehouse distributors that deal with all types of parts. Apprentices often start as stock or receiving clerks or drivers before moving up to the parts counter positions.
Materials technicians are employed by organizations that produce, process or sell products such as office supplies, tools and equipment, food goods, textile products, farm equipment or industrial supplies. Most work in urban centres where manufacturers, wholesalers and large retailers have their warehouses. Some are employed where large mining, transportation or manufacturing facilities are concentrated in non-urban settings (for example, at wood products plants or petroleum production facilities).
With the appropriate training and related work experience, parts technicians and materials technicians may advance to supervisory positions or move into related fields such as purchasing, sales, inventory control or materials management. Parts technicians may become store managers or even store owners.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
In the 1521: Shippers and receivers occupational group, 81.5% of people work in:
In the 1522: Storekeepers and partspersons occupational group, 78.7% of people work in:
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 1521: Shippers and receivers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.4% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 234 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
In Alberta, the 1522: Storekeepers and partspersons occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.4% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 39 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Journeyperson materials and parts technicians wage rates vary depending on industry sector and geographic location in the province. Generally, it ranges from $13 to $35 an hour, plus benefits (2020 estimates). Apprentices in both branches of this trade earn at least 65% of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 75% in the second and 85% in the third.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $24.00 | $18.27 | $17.65 |
| Overall | $16.50 | $28.37 | $21.55 | $20.96 |
| Top | $17.85 | $54.30 | $27.18 | $24.35 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $43,290 |
|---|---|
| Construction | $52,618 |
| Manufacturing | $45,893 |
| Wholesale Trade | $43,106 |
| Retail Trade | $38,303 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $45,971 |
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $41,395 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | $48,094 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $50,684 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $40,665 |
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $42,679 |
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $30.60 | $21.46 | $21.00 |
| Overall | $18.27 | $39.95 | $26.95 | $25.50 |
| Top | $21.34 | $43.92 | $31.85 | $30.58 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $55,109 |
|---|---|
| Construction | $60,642 |
| Manufacturing | $59,158 |
| Wholesale Trade | $63,334 |
| Retail Trade | $50,099 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $52,100 |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $62,537 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $39,723 |
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $54,633 |
| Public Administration | $69,823 |
Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website: tradesecrets.alberta.ca
Motor Dealers’ Association of Alberta website: mdaalberta.com
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2020. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
