Service advisor pay
How much does a service advisor make?
The short answer
Service advisors in the US earn a median of $24.47 an hour, about $50,910 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn $19.59 to $31.39 an hour. The BLS has no job called service advisor. It counts automotive service writers as counter and rental clerks. These figures are for that group in auto repair shops. On 60 service advisor jobs posted with pay on Tire Careers in the last 30 days, shops offered a median of $23.54 an hour.
Updated
Service advisor pay by percentile
The government survey counts 28,090 counter and rental clerks working in auto repair shops in the US. That is the group service advisors and service writers fall in. Half earn more than the median and half earn less.
| Percentile | Hourly | Yearly (full time) |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17.10 | $35,560 |
| 25th | $19.59 | $40,750 |
| Median | $24.47 | $50,910 |
| 75th | $31.39 | $65,300 |
| 90th | $37.21 | $77,400 |
What shops are posting right now
This is the pay shops put on service advisor jobs listed on Tire Careers in the last 30 days. We count each employer and pay range once, and we take the middle of each posted range. Yearly pay becomes hourly when we divide it by 2,080. We show it once at least 30 postings list pay.
| Role | Median hourly | Middle half | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service advisor | $23.54 | $18.50 to $32.45 | 60 |
How the pay compares
Here is the same survey for other shop jobs, lowest pay first. Many techs start on tires or oil changes and move up from there.
| Job | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Lube techs and service attendants | $17.15 | $35,670 |
| Tire technicians | $18.13 | $37,710 |
| Auto technicians and mechanics | $24.34 | $50,620 |
| Service advisors and counter clerks (auto repair shops) | $24.47 | $50,910 |
| Diesel technicians | $29.70 | $61,770 |
What raises the pay
- Commission. Many advisors are paid a base plus commission, so what you sell changes what you take home. Ask a shop how its plan works and what a normal week pays.
- ASE C1. ASE has a test for advisors, C1 Automobile Service Consultant. Passing it shows a shop what you know.
- Knowing the cars. An advisor who understands the repair can explain it in plain words. Time spent in the bays helps.
- Shop software. If you already know a shop management system, you need less training when you change shops.
Where the job can lead
The Tire Industry Association career ladder has the service advisor moving up to service manager.
Looking for work, or hiring?
Common questions
How much does a service advisor make an hour?
The closest group in the Bureau of Labor Statistics survey is counter and rental clerks in auto repair shops, which is where service writers are counted. The median there is $24.47 an hour (May 2025). The middle half earn between $19.59 and $31.39. The top 10% earn more than $37.21.
How much does a service advisor make a year?
About $50,910 a year at the median, working full time. The lowest 10% earn under $35,560 and the top 10% earn over $77,400.
Is a service advisor the same as a service writer?
Yes. Shops use both names for the same job. The BLS uses the name automotive service writer.
Do service advisors get commission?
Many do. A common plan is a base wage plus commission. The BLS figures on this page count commission as pay and leave out overtime. Ask a shop how its plan works and what a normal week pays.
Do you need shop experience to be a service advisor?
It helps, but many shops do not ask for it. Many good advisors come from sales or customer service and learn the shop side on the job.
Where do these numbers come from?
The survey figures come from the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The BLS has no job called service advisor. It counts automotive service writers as counter and rental clerks. These figures are for that group in auto repair shops. The group's code is SOC 41-2021, and the industry is Automotive Repair and Maintenance (NAICS 8111). The posted pay figures come from Tire Careers jobs from the last 30 days that state their pay. We count each employer and pay range once. To get hourly pay, we divide yearly pay by 2,080 hours.
More free guides
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Counter and Rental Clerks (41-2021) in Automotive Repair and Maintenance (NAICS 8111), OEWS May 2025
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tire Repairers and Changers (49-3093), OEWS May 2025
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (49-3023), OEWS May 2025
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (49-3031), OEWS May 2025
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants (53-6031), OEWS May 2025
- Tire Careers job board, pay stated on jobs from the last 30 days