Sales Managers
Machines can already do 28% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 48%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Sales Managers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 28% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 4% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2036, and 48% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 637,080 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $148,270 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 84% for contact with people.
- Also called: District Sales Manager, Fractional Sales Executive, National Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate, or other subjects of sale | 22% | 10% to 27% | |
| Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability | 11% | 60% to 90% | |
| Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs | 11% | 18% to 38% | |
| Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs | 9% | 10% to 27% | |
| Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs, and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase | 7% | 35% to 58% | |
| Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service | 6% | 84% to 87% | |
| Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts | 6% | 55% to 85% | |
| Determine price schedules and discount rates | 6% | 20% to 45% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills sales managers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
This job is already among the lowest risk for its skill shape.
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Sales Managers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2036. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of sales managers?
Machines can do 28% of the tasks of sales managers today and 48% 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 11-2022.00 (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). Sales Managers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/sales-managers/