Automotive sales clerk (Automobilkaufmann/-frau)
The commercial role of the German automotive sector: sales, service and administration within dealerships and industry groups.
The profession
The automotive clerk runs the commercial and administrative side of a dealership: vehicle and service sales, financing and insurance, parts management, after-sales, marketing and customer care.
Salary
On entry after training, about 2,400 to 3,100 €/month depending on company size, region and agreement, often around 2,850 € (sources: German salary portals, sector data). Sales-linked bonuses may be added. Indicative figures.
Duration and path
The training lasts 3 years, alternating company / vocational school, with the IHK exam. It usually takes place in a dealership.
Employers hiring
Dealerships and automotive retail groups, manufacturers and their networks, importers, leasing and financing companies. The automotive sector is a pillar of the German economy.
Prospects and progression
Progression into vehicle sales, service management, running a department or a dealership, with further qualifications (Automobilverkäufer, Fachwirt).
German level and visa
B2 is the standard, because of customer and administrative contact. You need an Ausbildung contract and a training visa (§ 16a). We train you to B2 in Douala and handle the paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need technical/mechanical knowledge?
- No: it's a commercial and administrative role. An interest in cars helps, but mechanics belong to another trade (Kfz-Mechatroniker).
- Are there bonuses?
- Depending on the company, sales-linked bonuses may top up the base salary.
Indicative gross ranges from public German sources (Federal Employment Agency, Entgeltatlas, Gehalt.de, IHK). In retail, pay follows sector collective agreements (Einzelhandel) and the statutory minimum wage, and varies by region, employer and experience. Commerce is a non-regulated field: formal recognition is not always required to work, but may be needed depending on the visa route. Recognition and visa rules change: always check your case with the competent German authorities.