Dealer principals in new car showrooms earn an average £62,110 a year, according to new figures released in the Auto Retail Industry Salary Survey 2008. The total earnings include a basic salary and bonuses based on sales targets.

Dealer principals, the men and women responsible for running the whole dealership, are the highest paid staff in the auto retail industry, according to the survey. Sales managers earn an average £44,719 while service technicians earn just about £26,000.

“The new research reveals senior managers who hit their targets are fairly rewarded,” commented Sue Robinson, Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association. “This is good news for them and good news for their customers.

“It shows the auto retail industry is a good career choice and means we can continue to attract high quality people to our dealerships. That means customer service levels, and satisfaction with new car dealers, should continue to rise.”

The Auto Retail Industry Salary Survey 2008, published in association with EurotaxGlass’s, reveals significant variations in pay by region. Unsurprisingly the highest paid region in the UK turned out to be London within the M25 with average total salaries (including bonus, commission and overtime) 19% above the national average.

London within the M25 also topped the table for service retail labour rates at £84.34 per hour; indeed labour rates and levels of average total pay followed each other very closely by region. This, too, is unsurprising because retail service labour rates are generally set based on technicians’ pay.

The Auto Retail Industry Salary Survey 2008 reports on 20 different job functions in the industry, across 9 geographic regions. It has been compiled by Trend Tracker from research with members of Auto Retail Network, the RMIF National Franchised Dealers Association and the Scottish Motor Trade Association.

Copies of the survey are available from Francis Marshall (francis@auto-retail.com) or by telephoning 01572 724687, price at £199 + vat (or £149 +vat for members of the RMIF, SMTA and Auto Retail Network).