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AI Work Index

Headline risk

20%

Moderate Risk

Retail salespersons

United States AI Work IndexISCO 5220crosswalk_exact

United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.

3,936.7 current · 3,917.1 projectedConfidence high

Why This Score

Tasks 100%

Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities

Wage $35K

Median annual wage

Demand -1%

Projected employment change over 10 years

Preparation Zone 2

Typical preparation needed for this occupation

Occupation profile

Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

Task evidence

100% weighted task match · 27% effective coverage

Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works

United States Now

Median Wage

USD 34,580

Employment 2024

3936.7K

Projected Change (2024–34)

-0.5%

Openings (2024–34)

555.8K

Wage distribution

Bottom 10%: USD 25,60025th pctl: USD 29,140Median: USD 34,58075th pctl: USD 37,850Top 10%: USD 47,930

Demand outlook

Overall employment of retail sales workers is projected to decline 0 percent from 2024 to 2034.

Education: No formal educational credential Experience: None

Role Profile

Customer serviceAdaptabilityInterpersonal

Tasks

  • 1. Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs. AI use: 0%
  • 2. Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires. AI use: 99%
  • 3. Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise. AI use: 95%
  • 4. Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices. AI use: 0%
  • 5. Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers. AI use: 96%
  • 6. Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales. AI use: 100%

Technologies

Adobe AcrobatAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopApple macOS

Requirements

Telework: <5%Telework: >95%

Work context

Contact With Others 4.9/5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams 4.9/5
Telephone Conversations 4.6/5
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General 4.6/5
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team 4.3/5
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled 4.2/5

Worker profile

Median age 35.8 · 2.7M employed

Under 25: 28% · 25–54: 50% · 55+: 22%

Related

No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.