Retail Salespersons
Sales and Related Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 41-2031.00
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Very high· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.322
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.38
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 18 hidden tasks24 rated tasks · 15 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (62.5%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.41-2031.00 | 0.060245.2 |
Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.41-2031.00 | 0.037728.3 |
Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.41-2031.00 | 0.021015.7 |
Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.41-2031.00 | 0.00896.6 |
Watch for and recognize security risks and thefts and know how to prevent or handle these situations.41-2031.00 | 0.00312.3 |
Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales.41-2031.00 | 0.00251.9 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Maintain records related to sales.O*NET Task ID 698 | 1.0 |
Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.O*NET Task ID 704 | 1.0 |
Estimate cost of repair or alteration of merchandise.O*NET Task ID 715 | 1.0 |
Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.O*NET Task ID 696 | 0.5 |
Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.O*NET Task ID 697 | 0.5 |
Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.O*NET Task ID 700 | 0.5 |
Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.O*NET Task ID 701 | 0.5 |
Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.O*NET Task ID 702 | 0.5 |
Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales.O*NET Task ID 703 | 0.5 |
Place special orders or call other stores to find desired items.O*NET Task ID 705 | 0.5 |
Inventory stock and requisition new stock.O*NET Task ID 711 | 0.5 |
Sell or arrange for delivery, insurance, financing, or service contracts for merchandise.O*NET Task ID 713 | 0.5 |
Estimate and quote trade-in allowances.O*NET Task ID 714 | 0.5 |
Estimate quantity and cost of merchandise required, such as paint or floor covering.O*NET Task ID 716 | 0.5 |
Rent merchandise to customers.O*NET Task ID 717 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (24)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs. | Core |
| Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices. | Core |
| Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment. | Core |
| Watch for and recognize security risks and thefts and know how to prevent or handle these situations. | Core |
| Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires. | Core |
| Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise. | Core |
| Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers. | Core |
| Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales. | Core |
| Place special orders or call other stores to find desired items. | Core |
| Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise. | Core |
| Clean shelves, counters, and tables. | Core |
| Exchange merchandise for customers and accept returns. | Core |
| Inventory stock and requisition new stock. | Core |
| Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental. | Core |
| Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits. | Supplemental |
| Maintain records related to sales. | Supplemental |
| Prepare sales slips or sales contracts. | Supplemental |
| Bag or package purchases and wrap gifts. | Supplemental |
| Help customers try on or fit merchandise. | Supplemental |
| Sell or arrange for delivery, insurance, financing, or service contracts for merchandise. | Supplemental |
| Estimate and quote trade-in allowances. | Supplemental |
| Estimate cost of repair or alteration of merchandise. | Supplemental |
| Estimate quantity and cost of merchandise required, such as paint or floor covering. | Supplemental |
| Rent merchandise to customers. | Supplemental |
0.73/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment. | E2 structured facilities |
| Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean shelves, counters, and tables. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Exchange merchandise for customers and accept returns. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inventory stock and requisition new stock. | E2 structured facilities |
| Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits. | E2 structured facilities |
| Bag or package purchases and wrap gifts. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Help customers try on or fit merchandise. | E0 none |
| Rent merchandise to customers. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 4.0M
- Projected employment, 2035
- 4.0M
- Change (2025–35)
- -0.3%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $35,410
- Typical education needed for entry
- No formal educational credential
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51011 | 신차 영업원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 51012 | 중고차 영업원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 52121 | 의류 판매원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 52122 | 화장품 판매원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 52123 | 가전제품 판매원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 52124 | 가구 판매원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 52125 | 신발 및 액세서리 판매원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 52126 | 서적‧문구 및 음반 판매원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 52127 | 원예작물 판매원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 52128 | 음식료품 판매원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 52139 | 그 외 매표원 및 복권 판매원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 53110 | 단말기 및 통신 서비스 판매원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 5223Shop Sales Assistants
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Shop sales assistants sell a range of goods and services directly to the public or on behalf of retail and wholesale establishments, and explain the functions and qualities of these goods and services.
Tasks
- (a) determining customer requirements and advising on product range, price, delivery, warranties and product use and care;
- (b) demonstrating and explaining to customers the establishment's goods and services;
- (c) selling goods and services, accepting payment by a variety of payment methods, preparing sales invoices and recording sales using cash registers;
- (d) assisting with the ongoing management of stock such as product inventories and participating in stock takes;
- (e) stacking and displaying goods for sale, and wrapping and packing goods sold.
Example occupations
Salesperson (retail establishment) · Salesperson (wholesale establishment) · Shop assistant
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- specialised sellerESCO 5223.7Same scope
Specialised sellers sell goods in specialised shops.
- ammunition specialised sellerESCO 5223.7.1This occupation is broader
Ammunition specialised sellers sell weapons and ammunition for individual use in specialised shops.
- audio and video equipment specialised sellerESCO 5223.7.2This occupation is broader
Audio and video equipment specialised sellers sell audio and video equipment such as radio and television, CD, DVD etc. players and recorders in specialised shops.
- beverages specialised sellerESCO 5223.7.5This occupation is broader
Beverages specialised sellers sell beverages in specialised shops.
- bookshop specialised sellerESCO 5223.7.6This occupation is broader
Bookshop specialised sellers sell books in specialised shops. They also make suggestions, give advice about the books available and any other related products for sale in the specialised shop.
- building materials specialised sellerESCO 5223.7.7This occupation is broader
Building materials specialised sellers sell building materials in specialised shops.
- clothing specialised sellerESCO 5223.7.8This occupation is broader
Clothing specialised sellers sell clothes in specialised shops.
- computer and accessories specialised sellerESCO 5223.7.9This occupation is broader
Computer and accessories specialised sellers sell computers and other peripheral units in specialised shops.
- computer games, multimedia and software specialised sellerESCO 5223.7.10This occupation is broader
Computer games, multimedia and software specialised sellers sell software products in specialised shops.
- confectionery specialised sellerESCO 5223.7.11This occupation is broader
Confectionery specialised sellers sell confectionery in specialised shops.
- cosmetics and perfume specialised sellerESCO 5223.7.12This occupation is broader
Cosmetics and perfume specialised sellers sell cosmetics and toilet articles in specialised shops.
- delicatessen specialised sellerESCO 5223.7.13This occupation is broader
Delicatessen specialised sellers sell delicatessen in specialised shops.
+21 more
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| D1201 | Brocanteur / Brocanteuse | This occupation is broader |
| D1210 | Vendeur / Vendeuse en animalerie | This occupation is broader |
| D1211 | Vendeur / Vendeuse d'articles de sport et loisirs | This occupation is broader |
| D1212 | Vendeur / Vendeuse en équipement de la maison | This occupation is broader |
| D1214 | Vendeur / Vendeuse en prêt-à-porter | This occupation is broader |
| D1221 | Vendeur / Vendeuse de produits culturels et ludiques | This occupation is broader |
| D1245 | Vendeur / Vendeuse en parfumerie | This occupation is broader |
| D1246 | Vendeur / Vendeuse en accessoires de la personne | This occupation is broader |
| D1248 | Conseiller / Conseillère en matériel médical ou paramédical | This occupation is broader |
| D1404 | Vendeur / Vendeuse automobile | This occupation is broader |
| D1423 | Conseiller / Conseillère produits en véhicules | This occupation is broader |
| D1426 | Vendeur / Vendeuse en véhicules de collection | This occupation is broader |
| D1441 | Technico-commercial / Technico-commerciale de l'industrie et des services nautiques | This occupation is broader |
| D1219 | Vendeur / Vendeuse conseil en jardinerie | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1227 | Acheteur vendeur / Acheteuse vendeuse d'or, de métaux précieux | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1243 | Acheteur vendeur / Acheteuse vendeuse en dépôt-vente | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1247 | Vendeur / Vendeuse en articles de puériculture | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1249 | Vendeur / Vendeuse de cuisines | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1250 | Libraire | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1253 | Disquaire | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1254 | Vendeur / Vendeuse en articles de papeterie et loisirs créatifs | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1421 | Conseiller commercial / Conseillère commerciale en véhicules industriels | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1425 | Conseiller vendeur / Conseillère vendeuse de véhicules poids lourds | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1427 | Conseiller vendeur / Conseillère vendeuse d'autocars | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1430 | Conseiller vendeur / Conseillère vendeuse de véhicules de loisirs | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1434 | Conseiller commercial / Conseillère commerciale motocycles | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| A1447 | Herboriste | Related, not a match |
| D1437 | Gérant / Gérante de négoce automobile | Related, not a match |
| D1440 | Conseiller / Conseillère en livraison de véhicules | Related, not a match |
| D1442 | Courtier / Courtière en bateau | Related, not a match |
| G1608 | Ecailler / Ecaillère | Related, not a match |
| C1117 | Courtier automobile / Courtière automobile | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| D1105 | Poissonnier / Poissonnière | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 5220 | Vendedores en tiendas y almacenes | Same scope |
| 5411 | Vendedores en quioscos | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 5412 | Vendedores en mercados ocasionales y mercadillos | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 62102 | Berufe im Verkauf (ohne Produktspezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 62212 | Berufe im Verkauf von Bekleidung, Sportartikeln, Lederwaren und Schuhen - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 62242 | Berufe im Verkauf von Elektro-, Elektronik- und Haushaltswaren - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 62252 | Berufe im Verkauf von Möbeln und Einrichtungsgegenständen - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 62272 | Berufe im Verkauf von Kraftfahrzeugen, Zweirädern und Zubehör - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 62222 | Berufe im Verkauf von Schmuck und Uhren - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 62232 | Berufe im Verkauf von Bürobedarf, Geschenk- und Spielwaren - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 62262 | Berufe im Verkauf von Garten-, Heimwerker-, Haustier- und Zoobedarf - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 62302 | Berufe im Verkauf von Lebensmitteln (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 62312 | Berufe im Verkauf von Back- und Konditoreiwaren - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 62382 | Berufe im Verkauf von Lebensmitteln (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 62422 | Berufe im Verkauf von Sanitäts- und Medizinbedarf - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 62512 | Berufe im Buchhandel - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 62522 | Berufe im Kunst- und Antiquitätenhandel - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 62532 | Berufe im Musikfachhandel - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 323 | 販売店員 | Same scopeprovisional |
| 344 | 機械器具営業職業従事者（通信機械器具を除く） | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources