Shop operations positions
4 positions, each with what the role does, when a store needs it, what it pays and one flat fee per hire.
A shop runs on loading, quality and getting paid. The foreman checks the hard jobs, the dispatcher keeps every technician loaded, and the warranty administrator makes sure the factory pays for covered work.
How to pick the right level
- A shop foreman pays off at about eight or more technicians.
- A dedicated dispatcher fits shops where advisors are too busy to load technicians well.
- Every franchised store needs a warranty administrator; groups add a warranty manager to audit claims.
Every level, what it pays and the fee
Warranty Administrator
$2,500 per hireSubmits and corrects warranty claims so the factory pays the store for every covered repair.
When a store needs it: Mid-size stores and up. Pay: $45,350 to $60,030 a year.
Service Dispatcher
$3,500 per hireAssigns repair orders to technicians by skill and hours so the shop stays loaded and on time.
When a store needs it: Large stores. Pay: $56,710 to $89,550 a year.
Shop Foreman
$5,500 per hireLead technician who diagnoses the hard jobs, checks quality and mentors the shop.
When a store needs it: Mid-size stores and up. Pay: $62,350 to $118,390 a year.
Warranty Manager
$5,500 per hireManages warranty claims and audits for several stores and protects against chargebacks.
When a store needs it: Dealer groups. Pay: $73,130 to $123,070 a year.
About store size and pay
Store size guidance reflects how dealerships typically staff as they grow, drawn from our 25 years inside dealerships and recruiting for them since 2012. Every store is different, so we confirm the right level on your intake call.
- Every store: Any franchised or independent dealership
- Mid-size stores: About 100 or more new and used retail units a month, or 50 or more employees
- Large stores: About 250 or more units a month, or 150 or more employees
- Dealer groups: About 3 to 10 rooftops
- Large dealer groups: 10 or more rooftops
- Stores with a body shop, stores with in-house financing and specialty dealers: roles that depend on the business, not its size
Pay bands are what people in each role earn at automobile dealers, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), including commissions and bonuses. Most bands run from the 25th to the 75th percentile; senior levels use the upper range of the same occupation. A band marked * uses all-industry figures because BLS does not report that role for auto dealers.
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