Retail Salespersons
Machines can already do 42% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 71%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Retail Salespersons in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 42% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 32% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 71% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 3,897,860 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $35,410 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 88% for contact with people.
- Also called: Car Salesman, Customer Assistant, Retail Salesperson, Sales Associate.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires | 15% | 85% to 87% | |
| Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment | 13% | 30% to 75% | |
| Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs | 10% | 32% to 60% | |
| Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales | 10% | 20% to 60% | |
| Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise | 6% | 83% to 87% | |
| Inventory stock and requisition new stock | 6% | 30% to 75% | |
| Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers | 5% | 83% to 87% | |
| Clean shelves, counters, and tables | 5% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills retail 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.
- Waiters and Waitresses61% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,230
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,790
- Travel Guides62% of tasks by 2035
- Barbers44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $38,210
What should you do about it?
Open this job in the Workforce Starburst to see it for your country, then use these to act on it.
Watch This Job
Get told when the outlook for this job changes.
Free planSkills to learn next
The skills that make this job, or the next one, last longer.
In the StarburstCheck your readiness
Ten quick questions on how ready you are.
FreeAsk Vantage
Ask what this job means for you and get a sourced answer.
Free to askFutures Academy courses
Courses matched to your gaps.
Coming soonPay trend
Where pay for this job is heading.
Coming soonTeam plan
Every role in your team, side by side, with a plan for each.
Pro and CorporateShared workspace
Work through it with your team, with notes and decisions kept.
Pro and Corporate
Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Retail Salespersons?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of retail salespersons?
Machines can do 42% of the tasks of retail salespersons today and 71% 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 41-2031.00 (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). Retail Salespersons: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/retail-salespersons/