Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Machines can already do 71% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 82%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 71% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 63% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 82% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 1,238,190 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $72,080 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 85% for contact with people.
- Also called: Account Representative, Customer Account Technician, Inside Salesperson, Outside Sales Representative.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders | 19% | 85% to 87% | |
| Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms | 11% | 84% to 87% | |
| Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports | 10% | 83% to 97% | |
| Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support | 9% | 85% to 87% | |
| Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests | 8% | 85% to 87% | |
| Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates | 6% | 83% to 87% | |
| Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences | 6% | 84% to 97% | |
| Prepare sales contracts and order forms | 5% | 75% to 95% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Retail Salespersons71% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,410
- Insurance Sales Agents81% of tasks by 2035 · US median $62,280
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products78% of tasks by 2035 · US median $104,920
- Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers74% of tasks by 2035 · US median $41,380
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products?
Machines can do 71% of the tasks of sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products today and 82% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 41-4012.00 (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 Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/sales-representatives-wholesale-and-manufacturing-except-technical-and-scientific-products/