Retail salespersons
SOC Code: 41-2031
Retail salespersons carries a 45% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $34,580 and -0.5% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 3,936,700 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 45% AI exposure, Retail salespersons sits 8 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 81% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Retail salespersons sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Retail salespersons 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.
Retail salespersons vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Retail salespersons 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
Retail salespersons (SOC 41-2031) 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 3,936,700 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -0.5% change through 2034 - a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $34,580, 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 Retail salespersons. 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. Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
- 2. Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
- 3. Maintain records related to sales.
- 4. Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
- 5. Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
- 6. Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
- 7. Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
- 8. Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits.
- 9. Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.
- 10. Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise.
Key Skills Required
- Persuasion
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Service Orientation
- Social Perceptiveness
- Negotiation
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
Knowledge Areas
- Sales and Marketing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Administrative
- Psychology
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- Communications and Media
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Retail salespersons?
Retail salespersons 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 Retail salespersons?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Retail salespersons is projected to decline by 0.5% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 3,936,700 workers.
What skills are needed for Retail salespersons?
Key skills for Retail salespersons include Persuasion, Active Listening, Speaking, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Retail salespersons earn?
The median annual wage for Retail salespersons is $34,580, 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 Retail salespersons?
The typical entry-level education for Retail salespersons 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 Retail salespersons?
Retail salespersons 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
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).