First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
SOC Code: 41-1011
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers carries a 45% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $47,320 and -5.0% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 1,432,600 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 45% AI exposure, First-line supervisors of 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.
Where First-line supervisors of 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.
First-line supervisors of 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 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 retail sales 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
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers (SOC 41-1011) 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 1,432,600 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -5.0% change through 2034 - a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $47,320, 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 retail sales workers. Public companies with meaningful exposure to this occupation, such as Amazon Com Inc and Walmart Inc., inherit a share of the same automation risk through their industry classification. 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. Provide customer service by greeting and assisting customers and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.
- 2. Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or in performing services for customers.
- 3. Formulate pricing policies for merchandise, according to profitability requirements.
- 4. Examine merchandise to ensure that it is correctly priced and displayed and that it functions as advertised.
- 5. Monitor sales activities to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service and quality goods.
- 6. Instruct staff on how to handle difficult and complicated sales.
- 7. Assign employees to specific duties.
- 8. Hire, train, and evaluate personnel in sales or marketing establishments, promoting or firing workers when appropriate.
- 9. Keep records of purchases, sales, and requisitions.
- 10. Plan and coordinate advertising campaigns and sales promotions and prepare merchandise displays and advertising copy.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Service Orientation
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Persuasion
- Negotiation
- Instructing
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Economics and Accounting
- Administrative
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace First-line supervisors of retail sales workers?
First-line supervisors of 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 retail sales workers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, First-line supervisors of retail sales workers is projected to decline by 5.0% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 1,432,600 workers.
What skills are needed for First-line supervisors of retail sales workers?
Key skills for First-line supervisors of retail sales workers include Active Listening, Speaking, Service Orientation, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do First-line supervisors of retail sales workers earn?
The median annual wage for First-line supervisors of retail sales workers is $47,320, 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 retail sales workers?
The typical entry-level education for First-line supervisors of 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 retail sales workers?
Public companies with significant First-line supervisors of retail sales workers workforce shares include Amazon Com Inc, Walmart Inc., Costco Wholesale Corp /New, among others. These employers are mapped by industry classification (SIC/NAICS) to BLS occupation-industry employment distributions. See the full employer rankings for AI displacement risk grades.
Employers with High AI Exposure in This Occupation Group
Public companies whose industry occupation mix includes a significant share of First-line supervisors of retail sales workers roles.
| Company | AI Grade | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Com Inc | C | 45.5% |
| Walmart Inc. | C | 45.5% |
| Costco Wholesale Corp /New | C | 45.5% |
| Home Depot, Inc. | C | 45.5% |
| Mcdonalds Corp | C | 45.5% |
| Tjx Companies Inc /De/ | C | 45.5% |
| Lowes Companies Inc | C | 45.5% |
| Starbucks Corp | C | 45.5% |
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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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).