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Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products score 54 out of 100, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks #158 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 36 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 5 on its own and 28 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 18 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

54/ 100
Elevated
Rank
#158of 923 jobs
US workers
284,800BLS, May 2025
Median pay
$104,920a year
In real AI use
18 of 36tasks, 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: 5 (14%)
  • AI can speed this up with extra software: 28 (78%)
  • Little or no AI speed-up: 3 (8%)
  • Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Maintain customer records, using automated systems.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Verify accuracy of materials lists.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
  • Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Emphasize product features, based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Compute customer's installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Prepare sales presentations or proposals to explain product specifications or applications.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Verify that delivery schedules meet project deadlines.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Identify prospective customers, using business directories, leads from existing clients, participation in organizations, or trade show or conference attendance.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertaining to purchased products.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Collaborate with colleagues to exchange information, such as selling strategies or marketing information.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Provide customers with ongoing technical support.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Advise customers on product usage to improve production.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Study documentation or other information for new scientific or technical products.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, environmental regulations, or industry developments.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Sell service contracts for technical or scientific products.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Provide feedback to product design teams so that products can be tailored to clients' needs.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Arrange for installation and testing of products or machinery.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Initiate sales campaigns to meet sales and production expectations.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Obtain building blueprints or specifications for use by engineering departments in bid preparations.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Verify customer credit ratings.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Appraise equipment to determine contract terms or trade-in values.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Consult with engineers regarding technical problems with products.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Sell technical and scientific products that are environmentally sound or designed for environmental remediation.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Visit establishments, such as pharmacies, to determine product sales.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Present information to customers about the energy efficiency or environmental impact of scientific or technical products.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
  • Inform customers about issues related to responsible use and disposal of products, such as waste reduction or product or byproduct recycling or disposal.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
  • Research and convey information to customers about tax benefits or government rebates associated with energy-efficient scientific or technical products, such as solar panels.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
  • Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Stock or distribute resources, such as samples or promotional or educational materials.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Demonstrate the operation or use of technical or scientific products.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

Similar jobs, lower exposure

Related occupations that score at least 10 points lower.

Other jobs in this field

Sales and Related occupations close to this one.

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

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

Not entirely. Parts of the job are likely to change as AI takes over routine tasks. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products score 54 out of 100 (elevated exposure), #158 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 33 of the job's 36 tasks, 5 of them on its own, while 3 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

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

The most exposed tasks include "Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders"; "Maintain customer records, using automated systems"; "Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications".

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

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales"; "Stock or distribute resources, such as samples or promotional or educational materials"; "Demonstrate the operation or use of technical or scientific products".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 18 of the 36 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

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

About 284,800 people in the US, with median pay of $104,920 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.

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