Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
Machines can already do 62% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 78%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 62% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 27% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 78% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 284,800 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $104,920 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 74% for contact with people.
- Also called: Inside Sales Representative, Marketing Representative, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales | 12% | 40% to 70% | |
| Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs | 10% | 84% to 87% | |
| Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements | 5% | 83% to 87% | |
| Maintain customer records, using automated systems | 5% | 85% to 97% | |
| Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms | 5% | 84% to 87% | |
| Prepare sales presentations or proposals to explain product specifications or applications | 5% | 79% to 97% | |
| Complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork | 5% | 70% to 95% | |
| Identify prospective customers, using business directories, leads from existing clients, participation in organizations, or trade show or conference attendance | 5% | 71% to 91% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, 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.
- Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers74% of tasks by 2035 · US median $41,380
- Demonstrators and Product Promoters67% of tasks by 2035 · US median $39,320
- Retail Salespersons71% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,410
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,790
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 Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, 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, technical and scientific products?
Machines can do 62% of the tasks of sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products today and 78% 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 41-4011.00 (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, Technical and Scientific Products: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/sales-representatives-wholesale-and-manufacturing-technical-and-scientific-products/