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 . Early-career workers in entry-level roles heavy on routine contact face the most immediate pressure . 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 . Retail leaders describe AI as something that will "unlock a lot of humanity" by clearing away administrative noise . 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 . Lean into empathy and adaptability, and you stay relevant.

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 , 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 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 echo this, predicting technology will "unlock a lot of humanity" by removing administrative burdens and enabling recruiters to focus on relationships and candidate experience.

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 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 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.

Somewhat Resilient

Last Update: 10/7/2026

AI Resilience Score for Sales and Related Workers:

42.7%

Median Score

Meaningful human contribution

Low

Long-term employer demand

Med

Sustained economic opportunity

Med

Our confidence in this score:

Low-medium

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.

Learn more about how you can thrive in this position

This role is somewhat resilient

Read full analysis

Analysis of current AI resilience

Sales and Related Workers

Updated quarterly

Your move

How can Sales and Related Workers prepare for AI?

Learn to use AI-native sales tools so you become the rep who runs them, not the one replaced by them.

The Selling Power analysis highlights new AI-native sales platforms that promise up to 80% lower costs than legacy systems, meaning companies will adopt them fast. Start exploring free or low-cost CRM and AI writing tools (like HubSpot's free tier or AI email assistants) now, so you already understand how these platforms handle drafting, searching, and synthesizing when you enter the workforce.

Practice reclaiming the 30% of time that actually matters in sales.

The analysis points out that reps currently spend roughly 72% of their time on busy work and less than 30% actually selling. Train yourself to focus on the relationship-building and judgment-rich conversations that AI cannot handle by joining your school's debate team, mock trial, or any club that puts you in front of people and asks you to read a room and respond in real time.

Understand which sales roles are growing and which are shrinking, then aim at the right target.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth for sales engineers through 2034, while declines are concentrated in scripted, paperwork-heavy roles like procurement clerks and customer service representatives. Research what sales engineers actually do (they explain complex products to technical buyers) and take introductory courses in a technical subject like coding, engineering, or data so you can combine people skills with product knowledge.

Build the "humanity" skills that the National Retail Federation says AI will unlock, not eliminate.

Retail leaders interviewed by the NRF predict technology will "unlock a lot of humanity" by removing administrative burdens, meaning your empathy and relationship skills become your main competitive advantage. Seek out volunteer work, part-time retail jobs, or customer-facing internships where you practice listening carefully, handling complaints gracefully, and building trust with strangers.

Pay attention to the Goldman Sachs warning about early-career workers and position yourself differently from day one.

Goldman Sachs research flags that entry-level workers in their 20s and 30s in content creation and knowledge work face the most pressure from new AI deployments. Avoid building your early career around scripted outreach or repetitive administrative sales tasks. Instead, ask for stretch assignments that involve complex problem solving, multi-step negotiations, or long-term client relationships, because those are exactly the areas the McKinsey B2B sales report identifies as remaining in human hands.

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Latest AI news for Sales and Related Workers

These articles highlight the evolving role of AI in the labor market, particularly for "Sales and Related Workers, All Other." For instance, the piece from Yale discusses how AI-driven displacement may lead to shifts in job tasks, suggesting that sales roles will increasingly require adaptability to new technologies. Additionally, the NACE article notes that while AI is more common in knowledge-based industries, it is increasingly influencing service sectors, including sales. Embracing AI can foster resilience in your career, allowing you to thrive amidst these changes.

Evaluating the Impact of AI on the Labor Market: Current State ...

budgetlab.yale.edu • 9/20/2026

Oct 1, 2025 — AI-driven displacement might suggest a growth in the proportion of exposed tasks amongst recently unemployed workers. Irrespective of the ... Read more

Labor market impacts of AI: A new measure

www.anthropic.com • 9/20/2026

by T Claude — Most harmful labor market developments of AI should arguably include a period of increased unemployment, as displaced workers search for ... Read more

The Impact of AI on the Early-career Labor Market

www.naceweb.org • 9/20/2026

May 13, 2026 — AI use is more common in knowledge-based industries (such as higher education, finance and technology) and less likely in production and service ... Read more

What is really happening to jobs? Separating AI hype from ...

siepr.stanford.edu • 9/20/2026

Jul 6, 2026 — AI's impact on worker productivity is mixed but generally positive. AI could wipe out half of white-collar jobs and push unemployment to 20 ...

Yes, AI is affecting employment. Here's the data.

www.adpresearch.com • 9/20/2026

Aug 26, 2025 — In jobs with high AI exposure, employment for 22- to 25-year-olds fell 6 percent between late 2022 and July 2025. In contrast, employment among ... Read more

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.

SOC Code:

41-9099.00•Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Parent Careers

Major Group:Sales and Related Occupations

Minor Group:Other Sales and Related Workers

Broad Group:Miscellaneous Sales and Related Workers

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

Somewhat Resilient

42.7%

Methodology and Scoring Rationale

AI Resilience Report forSales and Related Workers, All Other

This role is somewhat resilient

Sales and Related Workers

How is AI changing Sales and Related Workers jobs?

Sources

How fast is AI adoption growing for Sales and Related Workers?

Sources

Will AI replace Sales and Related Workers?

Sources

How can Sales and Related Workers prepare for AI?

Your Career Starts Here

Latest AI news for Sales and Related Workers

More Career Info

Career: Sales and Related Workers, All Other

Parent Careers

Similar Careers

Employment & Wage Data