AI exposure score

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products score 62 out of 100, which is high exposure to AI. That ranks #85 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 19 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 4 on its own and 15 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.

62/ 100

High

Rank: #85of 923 jobs
US workers: 1,238,190BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $72,080a year
In real AI use: 8 of 19tasks, 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: 4 (21%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 15 (79%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 0 (0%)

Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Prepare sales contracts and order forms.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Forward orders to manufacturers.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Provide customers with product samples and catalogs.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Negotiate with retail merchants to improve product exposure, such as shelf positioning and advertising.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Check stock levels and reorder merchandise as necessary.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Plan, assemble, and stock product displays in retail stores, or make recommendations to retailers regarding product displays, promotional programs, and advertising.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Negotiate details of contracts and payments.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Prepare drawings, estimates, and bids that meet specific customer needs.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Obtain credit information about prospective customers.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Arrange and direct delivery and installation of products and equipment.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Buy products from manufacturers or brokerage firms and distribute them to wholesale and retail clients.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task

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Questions about sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products and AI

Will AI replace sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products?

Probably not entirely, but the job is likely to change a lot. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products score 62 out of 100 (high exposure), #85 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 19 of the job's 19 tasks, 4 of them on its own. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates"; "Prepare sales contracts and order forms"; "Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports".

Which sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products tasks are hardest for AI?

Every task in this job has some AI exposure, though 15 of them need extra software built around the AI.

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 8 of the 19 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products, and what do they earn?

About 1,238,190 people in the US, with median pay of $72,080 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.

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Task by task

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Questions about sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products and AI

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