Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Sales and Related Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 41-4012.00
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.
- 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
0.628
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
0.49
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 12 hidden tasks19 rated tasks · 19 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (100.0%)
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
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- 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 % |
|---|---|
Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.41-4012.00 | 0.092277.3 |
Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales.41-4012.00 | 0.00826.9 |
Prepare drawings, estimates, and bids that meet specific customer needs.41-4012.00 | 0.00554.7 |
Plan, assemble, and stock product displays in retail stores, or make recommendations to retailers regarding product displays, promotional programs, and advertising.41-4012.00 | 0.00423.5 |
Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests.41-4012.00 | 0.00342.8 |
Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences.41-4012.00 | 0.00252.1 |
Negotiate details of contracts and payments.41-4012.00 | 0.00161.4 |
Prepare sales contracts and order forms.41-4012.00 | 0.00151.3 |
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 |
|---|---|
Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates.O*NET Task ID 8116 | 1.0 |
Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports.O*NET Task ID 8124 | 1.0 |
Forward orders to manufacturers.O*NET Task ID 8126 | 1.0 |
Prepare sales contracts and order forms.O*NET Task ID 20267 | 1.0 |
Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.O*NET Task ID 8113 | 0.5 |
Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests.O*NET Task ID 8114 | 0.5 |
Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders.O*NET Task ID 8115 | 0.5 |
Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.O*NET Task ID 8117 | 0.5 |
Prepare drawings, estimates, and bids that meet specific customer needs.O*NET Task ID 8118 | 0.5 |
Provide customers with product samples and catalogs.O*NET Task ID 8119 | 0.5 |
Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences.O*NET Task ID 8120 | 0.5 |
Arrange and direct delivery and installation of products and equipment.O*NET Task ID 8121 | 0.5 |
Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales.O*NET Task ID 8122 | 0.5 |
Obtain credit information about prospective customers.O*NET Task ID 8125 | 0.5 |
Check stock levels and reorder merchandise as necessary.O*NET Task ID 8127 | 0.5 |
Plan, assemble, and stock product displays in retail stores, or make recommendations to retailers regarding product displays, promotional programs, and advertising.O*NET Task ID 8128 | 0.5 |
Negotiate with retail merchants to improve product exposure, such as shelf positioning and advertising.O*NET Task ID 8129 | 0.5 |
Buy products from manufacturers or brokerage firms and distribute them to wholesale and retail clients.O*NET Task ID 8131 | 0.5 |
Negotiate details of contracts and payments.O*NET Task ID 20268 | 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 (18)
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 |
|---|---|
| Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms. | Core |
| Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests. | Core |
| Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders. | Core |
| Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates. | Core |
| Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support. | Core |
| Provide customers with product samples and catalogs. | Core |
| Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences. | Core |
| Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales. | Core |
| Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports. | Core |
| Prepare sales contracts and order forms. | Core |
| Prepare drawings, estimates, and bids that meet specific customer needs. | Supplemental |
| Arrange and direct delivery and installation of products and equipment. | Supplemental |
| Obtain credit information about prospective customers. | Supplemental |
| Forward orders to manufacturers. | Supplemental |
| Check stock levels and reorder merchandise as necessary. | Supplemental |
| Plan, assemble, and stock product displays in retail stores, or make recommendations to retailers regarding product displays, promotional programs, and advertising. | Supplemental |
| Negotiate with retail merchants to improve product exposure, such as shelf positioning and advertising. | Supplemental |
| Negotiate details of contracts and payments. | Supplemental |
0.10/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Provide customers with product samples and catalogs. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Check stock levels and reorder merchandise as necessary. | E2 structured facilities |
| Plan, assemble, and stock product displays in retail stores, or make recommendations to retailers regarding product displays, promotional programs, and advertising. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 1.3M
- Projected employment, 2035
- 1.3M
- Change (2025–35)
- -0.9%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $72,080
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51021 | 건축자재 영업원 | This occupation is broader | reviewed |
| 51022 | 식품 영업원 | This occupation is broader | reviewed |
| 51029 | 그 외 제품 영업원 | This occupation is broader | reviewed |
| 28420 | 해외 영업원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 51092 | 체인점 모집 및 관리 영업원 | 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 3322Commercial Sales Representatives
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Commercial sales representatives represent companies to sell various goods and services to businesses and other organizations and provide product-specific information as required.
Tasks
- (a) soliciting orders and selling goods to retail, industrial, wholesale and other establishments;
- (b) selling equipment, supplies and related services to business establishments or individuals;
- (c) obtaining and updating knowledge of market conditions and of employer’s and competitors’ goods and services;
- (d) providing prospective customers with information about the characteristics and functions of the products and equipment for sale, and demonstrating its use or qualities;
- (e) quoting prices and credit terms, recording orders and arranging deliveries;
- (f) reporting customers’ reactions and requirements to suppliers and manufacturers;
- (g) following up clients to ensure satisfaction with products purchased.
Example occupations
After-sales service adviser · Canvasser · Commercial traveller
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.
- client relations managerESCO 2431.6This occupation is narrower
Client relations managers act as the middle person between a company and its customers. They ensure that the customers are satisfied by providing them with guidance and explanation on their accounts and services received by the company. They also have possible other tasks such as developing plans or delivering proposals.
- commercial sales representativeESCO 3322.1This occupation is narrower
Commercial sales representatives represent a company in selling and providing information on goods and services to businesses and organisations.
- technical sales representativeESCO 2433.6This occupation is broader
Technical sales representatives act for a business to sell its merchandise while providing technical insight for customers.
- technical sales representative in agricultural machinery and equipmentESCO 2433.6.1This occupation is broader
Technical sales representatives in agricultural machinery and equipment act for a business to sell its merchandise while providing technical insight for customers.
- technical sales representative in chemical productsESCO 2433.6.2This occupation is broader
Technical sales representatives in chemical products act for a business to sell its merchandise while providing technical insight for customers.
- technical sales representative in electronic and telecommunications equipmentESCO 2434.4This occupation is broader
Technical sales representatives in electronic and telecommunications equipment act for a business to sell its merchandise while providing technical insight for customers.
- technical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipmentESCO 2433.6.4This occupation is broader
Technical sales representatives in machinery and industrial equipment act for a business to sell its merchandise while providing technical insight for customers.
- technical sales representative in mining and construction machineryESCO 2433.6.5This occupation is broader
Technical sales representatives in mining and construction machinery act for a business to sell its merchandise while providing technical insight for customers.
- technical sales representative in office machinery and equipmentESCO 2433.6.6This occupation is broader
Technical sales representatives in office machinery and equipment act for a business to sell its merchandise while providing technical insight for customers.
- technical sales representative in the textile machinery industryESCO 2433.6.7This occupation is broader
Technical sales representatives in the textile machinery industry act for a business to sell its merchandise while providing technical insight for customers.
- wholesale merchantESCO 3324.4This occupation is broader
Wholesale merchants investigate potential wholesale buyers and suppliers and match their needs. They conclude trades involving large quantities of goods.
- wholesale merchant in agricultural raw materials, seeds and animal feedsESCO 3324.4.2This occupation is broader
Wholesale merchants in agricultural raw materials, seeds and animal feeds investigate potential wholesale buyers and suppliers and match their needs. They conclude trades involving large quantities of goods.
+23 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 |
|---|---|---|
| D1107 | Vendeur / Vendeuse grossiste en produits frais | This occupation is broader |
| D1113 | Commercial itinérant / Commerciale itinérante en entreprise de commerce de gros | This occupation is broader |
| D1444 | Responsable grands comptes | This occupation is broader |
| D1213 | Vendeur / Vendeuse grossiste en équipement du foyer | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1419 | Courtier / Courtière en vins | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1433 | Commercial / Commerciale export | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| D1439 | Représentant / Représentante en biens et en services auprès des entreprises | Overlapping, not the same |
| D1119 | Mareyeur / Mareyeuse | Related, not a match |
| D1421 | Conseiller commercial / Conseillère commerciale en véhicules industriels | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| D1425 | Conseiller vendeur / Conseillère vendeuse de véhicules poids lourds | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| D1427 | Conseiller vendeur / Conseillère vendeuse d'autocars | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3510 | Agentes y representantes comerciales | Same scopeprovisional |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 61123 | Berufe im Vertrieb (außer Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien) - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 61212 | Kaufleute im Groß- und Außenhandel - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 61122 | Berufe im Vertrieb (außer Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 61133 | Handelsmakler/innen und Auktionatoren/Auktionatorinnen - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 61213 | Kaufleute im Groß- und Außenhandel - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 341 | 食料品営業職業従事者 | This occupation is broader |
| 349 | その他の営業職業従事者 | Overlapping, not the same |
| 342 | 化学品営業職業従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 344 | 機械器具営業職業従事者（通信機械器具を除く） | Related, not a match |
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