31
/100

SOC 41-2000

Retail Sales Workers

ModerateFrey/Osborne: 7.5%

Risk Score

โš ๏ธ

31/100

Moderate

US Employment

๐Ÿ‘ฅ

7,633,890

Total workers

Median Wage

๐Ÿ’ฐ

$34K

$24K โ€“ $47K

Projected Growth

๐Ÿ“ˆ

-4%

2023-2033 (BLS)

GenAI Exposure

๐Ÿค–

35/100

Moderate exposure

How we calculate these numbers โ†’

๐Ÿ’ก Retail Sales Workers face a risk score of 31/100 โ€” 13 points below the national average of 44. With only 35/100 GenAI exposure, most core tasks remain resistant to current AI capabilities. See our methodology โ†’

๐Ÿ’ก Workers in this field earn $34K. The 3 recommended career transitions all maintain competitive wages while reducing automation exposure. Explore transition paths โ†’

๐Ÿ” AI Impact Analysis

With a risk score of 31/100, Retail Sales Workers faces moderate automation pressure. While tasks like e-commerce automation reducing in-store sales staff are increasingly handled by AI, the role retains significant human elements. The 7,633,890 workers in this occupation should focus on strengthening skills in negotiating bespoke deals with multiple stakeholders and building long-term client relationships and trust to stay ahead. The role will likely evolve rather than disappear.

Will AI Replace Retail Sales Workers?

Read our full analysis with verdict, risk factors, safe tasks, and career transition paths โ†’

โš ๏ธ Top Risk Factors

1

E-commerce automation reducing in-store sales staff

2

Self-checkout and cashierless store technology

3

Dynamic pricing algorithms replacing pricing roles

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Tasks Safe from Automation

โœ“

Negotiating bespoke deals with multiple stakeholders

โœ“

Building long-term client relationships and trust

โœ“

Resolving novel customer complaints with empathy

โœ“

Consultative selling for complex or high-value products

๐Ÿ“Š Task Automation Breakdown

Based on O*NET task analysis and GenAI exposure scoring. Shows the estimated proportion of this occupation's core tasks that are automatable by current AI, augmented by AI tools, or require essential human skills.

๐Ÿ“Š vs National Average

Median Wage$34K
$-13K

National avg: $46K

Risk Score31/100
-13

National avg: 44/100

GenAI Exposure35/100
-3

National avg: 38/100

Projected Growth-4.0%
-7.7%

National avg: 3.7%

๐Ÿ”„ Career Transition Paths

OccupationRiskWageOverlap
Education Administrators, All Other21$89K65%
Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers23$66K61%
Advertising, Marketing, Promotions, Public Relations, and Sales Managers16$145K60%