AI exposure score

Retail Salespersons

Retail Salespersons score 34 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #483 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 24 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 3 on its own and 12 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 8 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

34/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #483of 923 jobs
US workers: 3,897,860BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $35,410a year
In real AI use: 8 of 24tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 3 (13%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 12 (50%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 9 (38%)

Maintain records related to sales.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Estimate cost of repair or alteration of merchandise.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Inventory stock and requisition new stock.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Place special orders or call other stores to find desired items.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Estimate and quote trade-in allowances.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Sell or arrange for delivery, insurance, financing, or service contracts for merchandise.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Estimate quantity and cost of merchandise required, such as paint or floor covering.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Rent merchandise to customers.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Exchange merchandise for customers and accept returns.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Watch for and recognize security risks and thefts and know how to prevent or handle these situations.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Clean shelves, counters, and tables.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Bag or package purchases and wrap gifts.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Help customers try on or fit merchandise.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use

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Questions about retail salespersons and AI

Will AI replace retail salespersons?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Retail Salespersons score 34 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #483 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 15 of the job's 24 tasks, 3 of them on its own, while 9 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which retail salespersons tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Maintain records related to sales"; "Prepare sales slips or sales contracts"; "Estimate cost of repair or alteration of merchandise".

Which retail salespersons tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs"; "Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental"; "Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 8 of the 24 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as retail salespersons, and what do they earn?

About 3,897,860 people in the US, with median pay of $35,410 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

Retail Salespersons

Task by task

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Questions about retail salespersons and AI

Know what's changing before it reaches your job.