Parts Salespersons
Machines can already do 35% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 69%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Parts Salespersons in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 35% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2031, and 69% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 270,070 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $38,630 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 88% for contact with people.
- Also called: Parts Advisor, Parts Consultant, Parts Counter Salesperson, Parts Counterman.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fill customer orders from stock, and place orders when requested items are out of stock | 12% | 20% to 60% | |
| Receive and fill telephone orders for parts | 11% | 20% to 60% | |
| Locate and label parts, and maintain inventory of stock | 9% | 20% to 60% | |
| Read catalogs, microfiche viewers, or computer displays to determine replacement part stock numbers and prices | 9% | 55% to 85% | |
| Assist customers, such as responding to customer complaints and updating them about back-ordered parts | 8% | 40% to 68% | |
| Determine replacement parts required, according to inspections of old parts, customer requests, or customers' descriptions of malfunctions | 8% | 55% to 85% | |
| Receive payment or obtain credit authorization | 7% | 65% to 92% | |
| Prepare sales slips or sales contracts | 5% | 70% to 95% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills parts salespersons use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Funeral Home Managers58% of tasks by 2035 · US median $78,790
- Photographers63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $44,660
- Logisticians61% of tasks by 2035 · US median $82,320
- Farm Labor Contractors49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $58,460
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Parts Salespersons?
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 parts salespersons?
Machines can do 35% of the tasks of parts salespersons today and 69% 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 41-2022.00 (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). Parts Salespersons: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/parts-salespersons/