By the numbers: A statistical look at the 2023 Retail Salary Survey

Based on responses to the Automotive News Canada Retail Salary Survey, the average dealership employee makes more than twice as much total compensation as a worker in the overall economy. Here's a detailed breakdown and look at all the numbers, by brand, by region, by education, and more.

ANNUAL SALARY BREAKDOWN

Below average 59% of population
Average $131.2k, 12% of population
Above average 29% of population

Population

  
Up to $30,000
 
1%
$30,000 to $49,999
 
9%
$50,000 to $74,999
 
18%
$75,000 to $99,999
 
17%
$100,000 to $124,999
 
15%
$125,000 to $149,999
 
12%
$150,000 to $199,999
 
10%
$200,000 to $224,999
 
4%
$225,000 to $249,999
 
3%
$250,000 to $299,999
 
4%
More than $300,000
 
7%
Salary includes commissions and bonuses, before taxes/deductions (thousands)
Source: Auto Careers Group, Research + Knowledge Insights

ANNUAL SALARY BY BRAND

Brand

 Salary
Porsche
 
$128.6
Chrysler
 
$125.5
Volkswagen
 
$124.3
Jeep
 
$120.5
Ram
 
$119.0
GMC
 
$118.6
Mercedes-Benz
 
$117.3
Dodge
 
$115.6
Buick
 
$114.7
Subaru
 
$112.0
Kia
 
$111.4
Nissan
 
$111.1
Audi
 
$109.3
Chevrolet
 
$108.9
Acura
 
$108.8
Ford
 
$108.4
Honda
 
$106.3
Toyota
 
$104.7
BMW
 
$104.4
Cadillac
 
$102.6
Hyundai
 
$102.2
Mazda
 
$100.5
Land Rover
 
$99.2
Lexus
 
$99.1
Infiniti
 
$96.3
Mini
 
$90.8
Volvo
 
$90.4
Lincoln
 
$88.7
Fiat
 
$88.1
Mitsubishi
 
$76.5
Salary includes commissions and bonuses
Source: Auto Careers Group, Research + Knowledge Insights

ANNUAL SALARY BY JOB TITLE

Job Title

 Salary Average
salary
vs. 2021		 Average %
commission
2022		 # Hours
worked
2022
Total
 
$131.2
 $6.5 26.8% 50
Area Manager
 
$123.8
 $6.9 8.4% 45
Exec Admin
 
$124.4
 $6.1 8.1% 44
President/Dealer Principal
 
$218.6
 $17.9 18.9% 50
General Manager
 
$239.3
 $13.7 39.0% 50
Product Advisor
 
$91.3
 $1.0 48.2% 50
New Car Manager
 
$154.7
 $9.2 54.7% 50
Pre-Owned Manager
 
$148.6
 $2.3 44.9% 50
General Sales Manager
 
$161.4
 $8.3 40.6% 50
Fixed Operations Manager
 
$142.3
 $15.5 22.4% 50
Service Manager
 
$89.0
 $3.4 22.5% 50
Service Advisor
 
$66.7
 $3.3 29.7% 48
Technician
 
$75.7
 $1.8 4.7% 44
Salary includes commissions and bonuses
Source: Auto Careers Group, Research + Knowledge Insights

ANNUAL SALARY BY REGION

Region

 Salary Average
salary
vs. 2021		 Average %
commission
2022		 # Hours
worked
2022
East
 
$96.3
 $7.0 30.7% 50
P!
 
$118.2
 $6.4 15.0% 45
ON
 
$138.4
 $9.5 34.0% 50
MB/SK
 
$126.9
 $9.5 32.6% 50
AB
 
$133.2
 $2.8 34.4% 50
BC/North
 
$143.1
 $3.3 31.6% 48
Salary includes commissions and bonuses
Source: Auto Careers Group, Research + Knowledge Insights

ANNUAL SALARY BY EDUCATION

Education

 Salary Average
salary
vs. 2021		 Average %
commission
2022		 # Hours
worked
2022
High School or less
 
$134.7
 $7.0 45.7% 50
Trade/Tech
 
$89.6
 $4.8 12.9% 45
College/CEGEP
 
$130.2
 $8.7 33.8% 50
University
 
$156.3
 $7.0 35.0% 50
Salary includes commissions and bonuses
Source: Auto Careers Group, Research + Knowledge Insights

ANNUAL SALARY BY AGE

Age

 Salary Average
salary
vs. 2021		 Average %
commission
2022		 # Hours
worked
2022
Gen Z/Mill
 
$123.0
 $6.8 29.0% 46
Gen X
 
$139.0
 $9.3 35.2% 50
Boomer
 
$122.8
 $3.6 24.1% 45
Salary includes commissions and bonuses
Source: Auto Careers Group, Research + Knowledge Insights

ANNUAL SALARY BY GENDER

Gender

 Salary Average
salary
vs. 2021		 Average %
commission
2022		 # Hours
worked
2022
Male
 
$138.3
 $8.4 33.3% 50
Female
 
$102.4
 $5.1 26.0% 45
Salary includes commissions and bonuses
Source: Auto Careers Group, Research + Knowledge Insights

ANNUAL SALARY BY GROUP

Group

 Salary Average
salary
vs. 2021		 Average %
commission
2022		 # Hours
worked
2022
Non-Minority
 
$137.6
 $7.4 34.7% 50
Minority
 
$120.2
 $9.2 26.5% 48
Salary includes commissions and bonuses
Source: Auto Careers Group, Research + Knowledge Insights

ANNUAL SALARY BY NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY

Years in Industry

 Salary Average
salary
vs. 2021		 Average %
commission
2022		 # Hours
worked
2022
< 10
 
$99.0
 $6.0 26.5% 50
10-15
 
$137.9
 $9.5 33.5% 49
16-20
 
$133.9
 $8.4 36.1% 49
21-30
 
$151.3
 $10.6 35.7% 50
31+
 
$127.4
 $0.5 27.6% 48
Salary includes commissions and bonuses
Source: Auto Careers Group, Research + Knowledge Insights

ANNUAL SALARY BY NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AT THE ORGANIZATION

Number of Employees at Organization

 Salary Average
salary
vs. 2021		 Average %
commission
2022		 # Hours
worked
2022
<50
 
$113.7
 $4.5 28.4% 48
50+
 
$145.9
 $9.0 35.0% 50
Salary includes commissions and bonuses
Source: Auto Careers Group, Research + Knowledge Insights

ANNUAL SALARY BY COMMUNITY SIZE

Community Size

 Salary Average
salary
vs. 2021		 Average %
commission
2022		 # Hours
worked
2022
Rural
 
$103.2
 $5.6 25.2% 45
Town
 
$110.3
 $5.7 26.4% 50
Med City
 
$135.9
 $7.3 32.0% 50
Large City
 
$152.8
 $8.7 38.2% 50
Salary includes commissions and bonuses
Source: Auto Careers Group, Research + Knowledge Insights

REASONS FOR LEAVING THEIR JOB

Reasons for leaving or considering leaving a workplace

  
Worklife balance issues
 
27%
Increased workload without additional pay
 
27%
Toxic workplace culture
 
24%
Manager is hard to work with/not a good manager
 
22%
Unmanageable workload expectations
 
17%
Wanted to (or continue to) work from home
 
5%
Lack of diversity in the workplace
 
4%
Did not want to be vaccinated
 
3%
Took early retirement
 
2%
Found a better job while on temporary layoff due to the pandemic
 
2%
Childcare reasons when schools were closed
 
1%
None of these: Better pay/opportunities/fit only
 
28%
None of these: I would never consider leaving this job
 
18%
Salary includes commissions and bonuses, before taxes/deductions (thousands)
Source: Auto Careers Group, Research + Knowledge Insights
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