Business Development Managers
Overall Exposure
2025 vs 2023
Theoretical Exposure
64What AI could do
Observed Exposure
26What AI actually does
Automation Risk Score
22Displacement risk
3-Year Outlook (2025 → 2028)
Projected changes in AI automation metrics over the next 3 years based on estimated data.
Overall Exposure
2025 → 2028 (estimated)
Theoretical Exposure
2025 → 2028 (estimated)
Observed Exposure
2025 → 2028 (estimated)
Automation Risk
2025 → 2028 (estimated)
Exposure Metrics (2023 - 2028)
Task Breakdown
About This Occupation
If you work as a Business Development Manager, AI is reshaping your profession. With an automation risk of 22/100 and overall exposure at 44%, this role faces medium transformation. The highest-impact area is analyze sales pipeline and forecast revenue at 70% automation. This is classified as an 'augment' role — AI handles research and analytics while relationship-building and negotiation remain human strengths. BLS projects +7% growth through 2034. Professionals who leverage AI-powered CRM and prospecting tools will outperform peers.
ISCO-08 classification
Sales and Marketing Managers
Definition
ILO original text (English)
Sales and marketing managers plan, direct and coordinate the sales and marketing activities of an enterprise or organization, or of enterprises that provide sales and marketing services to other enterprises and organizations.
Definition & vocabulary source
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) — ISCO-08 Structure
License: ILO CC BY 4.0
Official occupational information
- ONET11-2021.00
Marketing Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.
View original - ONET11-2022.00
Sales Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
View original
Frequently Asked Questions
With an automation risk score of 22%, Business Development Managers has a low risk of AI replacement. Most tasks in this role require skills that are difficult for AI to replicate, such as complex decision-making, physical dexterity, or deep interpersonal interaction. AI is more likely to serve as a supportive tool.
Our estimated AI automation risk score for Business Development Managers is 22% for 2025. Estimated overall AI exposure is 44%, with 64% theoretical exposure and 26% observed exposure. The estimated risk trend from 2023 to 2025 is +7 points. All of these are model-generated estimates, not measurements.
The tasks with the highest automation potential for Business Development Managers are: Analyze sales pipeline and forecast revenue (70%), Prepare proposals, presentations, and pitch decks (65%), Research and identify new market opportunities (62%). These rates are our own estimates of how much of each task current AI systems can handle. They are not measurements and are not taken from any external dataset.
We estimate a +7% employment change for Business Development Managers between 2024 and 2034. This is our own estimate, not a figure published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Combined with an estimated overall AI exposure of 44%, this occupation faces both traditional labor market shifts and AI-driven transformation. Workers should monitor both employment trends and AI capability growth.
Since AI primarily augments capabilities in this role, professionals in Business Development Managers should embrace AI as a productivity multiplier. Focus on learning to use AI tools effectively, developing higher-order analytical and creative skills, and positioning yourself as someone who can leverage AI to deliver greater value.