Could I make a somewhat stable income being a car salesman?

[MLGbreezy]

I’ve always heard that car salesman make decent money but from what I’ve read online that can vary since it’s commission based. I watched a video that said you could make 6 figures as a car salesman. I don’t wanna make six figures I do want to know if it would be worth pursuing as a decent job like could I move out of my parents house and live on my own as a salesman? Maybe even support a family? I know that dealership brand and traffic you get to the store matters greatly as well as how many cars you sell obviously. I recently got a job at a dealer I want yo eventually move up to be a salesman I actually only wanted to become a sales man to learn how to sell and I figured selling cars would be a great way to learn cause if you can sell cars you can sell anything it’s a great skill to learn. But I started thinking could I also make a decent enough living to support myself and maybe a family if what I really want to do doesn’t work out?

[Orion84]

You can make decent money as a car salesman, but it's a lot of work, and I wouldn't necessarily call it reliable.

I've never worked as one, but I did work as a mechanic at a dealership, and every single salesman had at least one or two bad months at some point. They also had great months.

If you're the type of person who likes to plan your finances, it probably wouldn't be the greatest job, but if you're good at saving, it might not be so bad, otberwise you could have a bad sales month, and wind up short of funds.

[MLGbreezy]

I see what you mean I think it’s kinda hard to say if the consistency would be an issue though I’m working at a pretty well know luxury car dealership. I’m not sure how much salesman would make per car but I would think that at the very least the hourly pay would be enough that I could still be fine even if I’m having a bad month and then there’s the topic of how bad a bad month is like if I’m having a bad month but I woke for bmw compared to someone working the average 9-5 I should still be just fine wouldn’t I? I guess the real question is even without the commission portion would I still be able to pay my bills on an hourly salary if I’m working at like a Porsche dealership?

[Orion84]

That's going to vary greatly by dealership, and even depending on the economy.

Some dealerships are 100% pure commission, and don't even offer an hourly wage. Oftentimes they offer a bigger percentage in place of the hourly wage.

At my old dealership, the salesmen who didn't sell any cars literally did not get paid. So, for them, a bad month was a BAD month. You'd want to see what the situation is at the dealership prior to applying.

Car sales are also affected by the economy. If people aren't making as much monry, they won't be spending it on cars. Now, for luxury cars, that may not be true, as rich folks are less devestated by small changes in the economy. Economical brands would likely be hit much harder.

[MLGbreezy]

Interesting thank you for the insight

[Orion84]

No problem at all. I wish you the best, either way. 👍

[Anonymous]

As far as I know it's commission-based hence the early starters tend to deal with plenty of tyre-kickers but occasionally hit the big money eccentric who will buy a top model or restock a business fleet as casually as joe blogs orders coffee

[itsannalee]

My boyfriend said he was car salesman. Now he has his own business, sells luxury car. He is 38 now.

[MLGbreezy]

I just got a job at a dealership for the position at the front desk which you also get commission for setting appointments and if any cars get sold for the appointments you set you could make up to 5k a month based on the top earners there this is what I was told by my interviewer. And that’s for just being a front desks rep. I would think I’d make ven more as a salesman.

[AI Opinion]

Becoming a car salesman can indeed offer a stable income, although it is largely commission-based, which may lead to fluctuations. Many salespeople do earn a decent living, and some even achieve six-figure earnings, but this can depend on factors like location, dealership brand, and personal sales skills.

If you're considering moving out and supporting a family, focus on building strong sales techniques to increase your reliability. Additionally, setting financial goals and managing your earnings wisely can help you achieve the stability you seek. With dedication, you can both learn valuable skills and secure a reasonable income.

[shortster]

It all depends on how good you are at making sales.