What is the best state to be a parts salespersons?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a parts salespersons: a BLS median of $48,600 is worth $54,632 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 132.6 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. North Dakota has the highest headline BLS median for a parts salespersons at $48,600, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 50 on real pay (index 132.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a parts salespersons salary go least far?

North Carolina ranks last of 50 states for a parts salespersons: a $32,480 BLS median is worth only $33,545 after tax and cost of living (index 81.4). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Parts Salespersons

Best States to Be a Parts Salespersons

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a parts salespersons salary goes furthest in North Dakota — a $48,600 BLS median worth $54,632 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 132.6).

Which US states are best for a parts salespersons after cost of living and tax?

For a parts salespersons, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks North Dakota #1: a $48,600 BLS median becomes $54,632 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 132.6). North Carolina ranks last ($33,545, index 81.4). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

North Dakota ranks #1 of 50 states for a parts salespersons. Index 100 = the average state; 132.6 means pay goes 32.6% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

132.6

Parts Salespersons — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	North Dakota	$48,600	—	89.0	$54,632	132.6
2	South Dakota	$45,370	—	88.6	$51,216	124.3
3	Iowa	$46,670	$1,733	87.8	$51,203	124.3
4	Nebraska	$45,100	$1,254	90.1	$48,663	118.1
5	Wisconsin	$45,380	$1,253	94.1	$46,896	113.8
6	Vermont	$46,260	$1,131	98.0	$46,070	111.8
7	Montana	$45,060	$1,520	94.6	$46,003	111.7
8	Minnesota	$47,030	$1,716	98.6	$45,947	111.5
9	Maine	$45,350	$1,462	97.0	$45,222	109.8
10	Idaho	$44,580	$1,418	95.5	$45,198	109.7
11	Alaska	$46,130	—	102.4	$45,067	109.4
12	Arizona	$46,020	$676	100.7	$45,040	109.3
13	Colorado	$47,660	$1,437	103.1	$44,854	108.9
14	New Hampshire	$46,370	—	104.2	$44,516	108.1
15	Michigan	$44,070	$1,626	96.2	$44,112	107.1
16	Washington	$46,830	—	107.0	$43,761	106.2
17	Missouri	$39,740	$987	90.8	$42,672	103.6
18	Connecticut	$44,400	$1,073	103.6	$41,817	101.5
19	Wyoming	$38,620	—	92.7	$41,665	101.1
20	New Jersey	$45,510	$967	108.8	$40,939	99.4
21	Oregon	$45,190	$3,150	103.4	$40,673	98.7
22	Massachusetts	$44,660	$2,013	105.8	$40,325	97.9
23	Illinois	$42,240	$1,950	100.0	$40,307	97.8
24	New York	$45,180	$1,880	107.9	$40,122	97.4
25	Oklahoma	$36,390	$1,191	87.8	$40,070	97.3
26	West Virginia	$36,800	$992	89.5	$40,010	97.1
27	Kansas	$36,940	$1,262	90.1	$39,613	96.2
28	California	$44,440	$789	110.7	$39,424	95.7
29	Ohio	$36,790	$229	92.8	$39,408	95.7
30	Mississippi	$35,000	$735	87.0	$39,407	95.7
31	Tennessee	$36,110	—	91.9	$39,306	95.4
32	New Mexico	$36,890	$666	92.2	$39,283	95.4
33	Arkansas	$35,320	$1,169	86.9	$39,282	95.4
34	Hawaii	$45,120	$1,933	110.0	$39,279	95.4
35	Indiana	$37,500	$1,095	93.3	$39,007	94.7
36	Kentucky	$36,400	$1,325	90.2	$38,903	94.4
37	Maryland	$42,460	$1,684	105.0	$38,849	94.3
38	Nevada	$38,740	—	100.0	$38,748	94.1
39	Pennsylvania	$38,520	$1,183	97.6	$38,267	92.9
40	Utah	$39,190	$1,783	98.9	$37,837	91.9
41	Georgia	$36,970	$1,346	96.3	$36,996	89.8
42	Delaware	$38,050	$1,435	99.8	$36,686	89.1
43	Texas	$35,440	—	97.1	$36,515	88.6
44	Alabama	$33,820	$1,426	88.8	$36,470	88.5
45	Virginia	$38,070	$1,389	101.1	$36,280	88.1
46	Florida	$37,190	—	103.4	$35,962	87.3
47	Rhode Island	$36,450	$767	102.3	$34,888	84.7
48	Louisiana	$31,310	$564	88.2	$34,856	84.6
49	South Carolina	$32,180	$409	93.7	$33,890	82.3
50	North Carolina	$32,480	$839	94.3	$33,545	81.4

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In North Dakota, a $48,600 salary is worth about $53,266 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $1,215 (≈ top marginal 2.50% (upper bound)) · take-home $47,385 · BEA cost of living 89.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $54,862, a $1,596 gain over North Dakota.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$54,862	88.6
2	Arkansas	$53,722	86.9
3	Louisiana	$53,445	88.2
4	Mississippi	$53,433	87.0
5	Iowa	$53,273	87.8
6	North Dakota	$53,266	89.0
7	Tennessee	$52,901	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$52,698	87.8
9	Wyoming	$52,432	92.7
10	Alabama	$51,980	88.8
11	Kentucky	$51,749	90.2
12	West Virginia	$51,686	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Parts Salespersons — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a parts salespersons?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a parts salespersons: a BLS median of $48,600 is worth $54,632 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 132.6 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. North Dakota has the highest headline BLS median for a parts salespersons at $48,600, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 50 on real pay (index 132.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a parts salespersons salary go least far?: North Carolina ranks last of 50 states for a parts salespersons: a $32,480 BLS median is worth only $33,545 after tax and cost of living (index 81.4). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

Compare other occupations

Get the Gera US Real Pay Index when BLS refreshes OEWS

BLS OEWS updates roughly once a year. Save your email and we’ll send the refreshed real-pay rankings when new wage data lands.

Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a parts salespersons is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.