Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers
SOC Code: 41-9091
Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers carries a 38% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $34,530 and -10.0% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 25,300 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 38% AI exposure, Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers sits 1 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 63% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers has ai exposure of 38%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers (SOC 41-9091) carries an AI exposure score of 38%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 25,300 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -10.0% change through 2034 - a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $34,530, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires No formal educational credential, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Explain products or services and prices and demonstrate use of products.
- 2. Develop prospect lists.
- 3. Deliver merchandise and collect payment.
- 4. Write and record orders for merchandise or enter orders into computers.
- 5. Arrange buying parties and solicit sponsorship of such parties to sell merchandise.
- 6. Answer questions about product features and benefits.
- 7. Distribute product samples or literature that details products or services.
- 8. Circulate among potential customers or travel by foot, truck, automobile, or bicycle to deliver or sell merchandise or services.
- 9. Persuade customers to purchase merchandise or services.
- 10. Set up and display sample merchandise at parties or stands.
Key Skills Required
- Speaking
- Persuasion
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Active Listening
- Coordination
- Negotiation
- Reading Comprehension
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Writing
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
- Administrative
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Psychology
- Communications and Media
- Computers and Electronics
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers?
Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers has an AI exposure score of 38%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers is projected to decline by 10.0% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 25,300 workers.
What skills are needed for Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers?
Key skills for Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers include Speaking, Persuasion, Social Perceptiveness, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers earn?
The median annual wage for Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers is $34,530, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers?
The typical entry-level education for Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers is No formal educational credential. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers?
Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
Explore More on PlainWorkforce
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).