High AI Risk Slow Growth

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

SOC Code: 41-1012

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers carries a 45% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $84,130 and 0.0% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 320,000 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.

AI Exposure Score
45% High

Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)

Projected Growth
0.0%
2024–2034 (BLS)
+0 jobs
Median Annual Wage
$84,130
BLS May 2024
How wage figures are sourced →
The verdict

At 45% AI exposure, First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers sits 8 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 79% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.

45%
AI exposure
Top 21%
most exposed
0.0%
Job growth 2024–34
$84,130
Median wage

Where First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers sits among all occupations

AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.

AI exposure distribution - First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers marked 1 occupations at 0–10% 1 0 43 occupations at 10–20% 43 10 184 occupations at 20–30% 184 20 332 occupations at 30–40% 332 30 158 occupations at 40–50% 158 40 64 occupations at 50–60% 64 50 29 occupations at 60–70% 29 60 15 occupations at 70–80% 15 70 5 occupations at 80–90% 5 80 1 occupations at 90–100% 1 90 AI exposure (%) →
Top 21% by AI exposure Higher AI exposure than 79% of all 832 occupations.

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers has ai exposure of 45%. 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.

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers vs. its occupational neighbors

AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.

Future-proofGrowing but exposedStable, lower-AIMost at risk27.4%36.2%45%53.8%62.6%-10.6%-6.8%-3.1%0.6%4.4%AI exposure (%) →Projected growth (%) →Retail salespersonsCashiersFirst-line supervisoSales representativeSales representativeInsurance sales agenSecuritiesReal estate sales agCounterFirst-line supervisoSales representative

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).

Employment Projections

320,000
Employment 2024
320,000
Projected 2034
0.0%
Change (%)
+0
Change (jobs)

Occupation Insight

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers (SOC 41-1012) carries an AI exposure score of 45%, placing it in the High 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 in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.

The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 320,000 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a 0.0% change through 2034 - modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $84,130, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus Less than 5 years 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 First-line supervisors of non-retail sales 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

Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-Job Training
None

Top Tasks (O*NET)

  1. 1. Monitor sales staff performance to ensure that goals are met.
  2. 2. Provide staff with assistance in performing difficult or complicated duties.
  3. 3. Visit retailers and sales representatives to promote products and gather information.
  4. 4. Formulate pricing policies on merchandise according to profitability requirements.
  5. 5. Prepare sales and inventory reports for management and budget departments.
  6. 6. Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or performing specific services.
  7. 7. Examine products purchased for resale or received for storage to determine product condition.
  8. 8. Examine merchandise to ensure correct pricing and display, and that it functions as advertised.
  9. 9. Listen to and resolve customer complaints regarding services, products, or personnel.
  10. 10. Keep records pertaining to purchases, sales, and requisitions.

Key Skills Required

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Monitoring
  • Management of Personnel Resources
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Time Management
  • Persuasion
  • Reading Comprehension

Knowledge Areas

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Administration and Management
  • English Language
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Education and Training
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Administrative

Frequently Asked Questions

Will AI replace First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers?

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers has an AI exposure score of 45%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.

What is the job outlook for First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers?

According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers is projected to grow by 0.0% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 320,000 workers.

What skills are needed for First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers?

Key skills for First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers include Active Listening, Speaking, Monitoring, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.

How much do First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers earn?

The median annual wage for First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers is $84,130, 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 First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers?

The typical entry-level education for First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect Less than 5 years of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.

Which companies employ First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers?

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales 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

2.3
out of 5.0

High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.

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).

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWorkforce Editorial

Every figure on PlainWorkforce is rendered directly from BLS/O*NET source data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these figures, or report a data error. Data current as of BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.