Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 8/30/2026
AI Resilience Score for Sales and Related Workers:
42.7%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Low
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
Limited data sources are available, or existing sources show notable disagreement on the outlook for this occupation.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forSales and Related Workers, All Other
$48,280 median salary•13,100 annual openings•SOC Code: 41-9099.00
Sales and Related Workers, All Other are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 3 sources.
Sales and Related Workers are labeled "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is genuinely changing how this job works, even if it is not replacing salespeople outright. Tools are already taking over the busy work (like searching, drafting emails, and administrative tasks), which means the roughly 72% of time reps used to spend on that kind of work is shifting fast.
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Sales and Related Workers are labeled "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is genuinely changing how this job works, even if it is not replacing salespeople outright. Tools are already taking over the busy work (like searching, drafting emails, and administrative tasks), which means the roughly 72% of time reps used to spend on that kind of work is shifting fast.
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Sales and Related Workers
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Sales and Related Workers jobs?
If you're a sales worker (or thinking about becoming one), the good news is that AI is mostly showing up as a helper rather than a replacement — at least for now. According to a July 2026 McKinsey report on B2B sales [1], AI agents can take on more of the searching, synthesizing, drafting, and administrative work, while sellers focus on relationship building, problem solving, and judgment-rich customer conversations. Trade publication Selling Power [2] recently profiled a new AI-native sales platform whose founder argues "It should be our assistant and not replacing us" — noting that reps spend roughly 72% of their time on busy work and less than 30% selling, which is exactly the gap AI is being pointed at.
Retail leaders interviewed by the National Retail Federation [3] echo this, predicting technology will "unlock a lot of humanity" by removing administrative burdens and enabling recruiters to focus on relationships and candidate experience.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Sales and Related Workers?
Adoption is moving fast because tools are cheap and widely available — the same Selling Power piece notes new AI-native systems promise up to 80% lower costs than legacy systems. Goldman Sachs research [4] warns that entry-level workers in their 20s and 30s, coming into the knowledge and content creation sectors, are likely to be most affected by new deployments of AI, so early-career sales roles heavy on scripted outreach face pressure. Still, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [5] projects growth for sales engineers through 2034, while declines are concentrated in procurement clerks; credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks; legal secretaries and administrative assistants; and customer service representatives — showing that human trust-building sales work is harder to automate than paperwork jobs.
Focus on empathy, judgment, and relationship skills, and you'll stay valuable.
Sources
Will AI replace Sales and Related Workers?
Not entirely. We think AI will take over some tasks, but not the whole job.
Our 42.7% AI Resilience Score puts this career in real-pressure territory. The honest picture is that a meaningful chunk of daily sales work, things like scripted outreach, research, drafting, and administrative follow-up, is already being handed off to AI tools. One industry founder noted that reps spend roughly 72% of their time on busy work and less than 30% actually selling, and that is exactly the gap AI is being built to close [2]. Early-career workers in entry-level roles heavy on routine contact face the most immediate pressure [4].
What stays human is the part that matters most: trust, judgment, and relationship-building. McKinsey research on B2B sales finds that AI agents handle the searching and synthesizing while sellers focus on problem solving and nuanced customer conversations [1]. Retail leaders describe AI as something that will "unlock a lot of humanity" by clearing away administrative noise [3].
The job market picture is mixed but not bleak. Declines are concentrated in paperwork-heavy roles, while sales work that requires genuine human connection holds steadier ground [5]. Lean into empathy and adaptability, and you stay relevant.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Sales and Related Workers
These articles highlight the impact of AI on job opportunities for sales workers, with studies showing rising unemployment in the sector. For instance, a Taub Center report links AI to an 18% increase in job losses among sales roles. Additionally, as AI reshapes the career ladder, entry-level positions may diminish, creating a more competitive landscape. However, by developing AI-related skills and adaptability, students can enhance their resilience in this evolving job market, positioning themselves for success in a technology-driven future.
Is AI replacing jobs? How 17 job types feel the effects
www.techtarget.com • 5/31/2026
Explore how AI technologies are transforming various jobs, their effect on roles and their potential to replace people.
Anthropic’s Economic Index Shows the AI Skills Gap Is Growing
builtin.com • 4/22/2026
Anthropic's latest Economic Index report shows how AI is transforming work — and why those who don't adapt risk falling behind.
AI drives rise in unemployment among programmers and sales workers, new Israeli study finds
www.ynetnews.com • 4/16/2026
A Taub Center study shows artificial intelligence is already behind up to 15% of rising unemployment among programmers and up to 18% among...
AI is already taking white-collar jobs. Economists warn there's 'much more in the tank'
www.cnbc.com • 10/22/2025
Across banking, the auto sector and retail, executives are warning employees and investors that AI is taking over jobs.
Is AI closing the door on entry-level job opportunities?
www.weforum.org • 4/30/2025
AI is reshaping the career ladder, putting entry-level roles at risk while widening global talent pools. Here's the job news to know,...
More Career Info
Career: Sales and Related Workers, All Other
They help sell products or services by talking to customers, answering questions, and ensuring they find what they need.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$48,280
Jobs (2025)
115,300
Growth (2025-35)
+1.1%
Annual Openings
13,100
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
