Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers
Machines can already do 39% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 74%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 39% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 18% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2031, and 74% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 2,760 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $41,380 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 81% for contact with people.
- Also called: Direct Sales Coach, Door-to-Door Sales Trainer, Independent Beauty Consultant, Independent Distributor.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circulate among potential customers or travel by foot, truck, automobile, or bicycle to deliver or sell merchandise or services | 23% | 30% to 75% | |
| Explain products or services and prices and demonstrate use of products | 15% | 30% to 75% | |
| Deliver merchandise and collect payment | 12% | 45% to 85% | |
| Persuade customers to purchase merchandise or services | 11% | 25% to 50% | |
| Answer questions about product features and benefits | 8% | 83% to 87% | |
| Write and record orders for merchandise or enter orders into computers | 6% | 85% to 97% | |
| Distribute product samples or literature that details products or services | 6% | 30% to 75% | |
| Develop prospect lists | 5% | 83% to 97% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Demonstrators and Product Promoters67% of tasks by 2035 · US median $39,320
- Retail Salespersons71% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,410
- Tour Guides and Escorts63% of tasks by 2035
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,790
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2031. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers?
Machines can do 39% of the tasks of door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers today and 74% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 41-9091.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/door-to-door-sales-workers-news-and-street-vendors-and-related-workers/