Sales managers
SOC Code: 11-2022
Sales managers carries a 48% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $138,060 and +4.7% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 619,500 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 48% AI exposure, Sales managers sits 11 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 85% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Sales managers sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Sales managers has ai exposure of 48%. 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.
Sales managers vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Sales managers 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
Sales managers (SOC 11-2022) carries an AI exposure score of 48%, 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 619,500 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +4.7% change through 2034 - modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $138,060, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Bachelor's degree, 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 Sales managers. 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. Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
- 2. Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
- 3. Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
- 4. Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs, and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
- 5. Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
- 6. Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.
- 7. Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate, or other subjects of sale.
- 8. Determine price schedules and discount rates.
- 9. Prepare budgets and approve budget expenditures.
- 10. Confer or consult with department heads to plan advertising services and to secure information on equipment and customer specifications.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Negotiation
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Persuasion
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Management of Personnel Resources
Knowledge Areas
- Sales and Marketing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- Economics and Accounting
- Communications and Media
- Mathematics
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Sales managers?
Sales managers has an AI exposure score of 48%, 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 Sales managers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Sales managers is projected to grow by 4.7% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 619,500 workers.
What skills are needed for Sales managers?
Key skills for Sales managers include Active Listening, Speaking, Negotiation, and others. Typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree.
How much do Sales managers earn?
The median annual wage for Sales managers is $138,060, 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 Sales managers?
The typical entry-level education for Sales managers is Bachelor's degree. 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 Sales managers?
Sales managers 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.
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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).