Career Explorer Sales
Changing shape
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education.
Among the careers AI is changing fastest: more resilient than 9% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +1.2% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and creative vision.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $104,920
- Job growth to 2035
- +1.2%
- Openings a year
- 23,600
- People doing it (2025)
- 292,000
- Usual route in
- Bachelor's degree, then moderate on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Explain technical details of products or services
- Promote products, services, or programs
- Advise others on products or services
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Sell products or services
- Collect data about consumer needs or opinions
- Prepare proposals or grant applications
What the work looks like
- Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.
- Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
- Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.
- Sell service contracts for technical or scientific products.
- Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- Fewer of these jobs, as generative artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into the sales process allowing sales representatives to focus on direct sales activity.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialistsGrows with AI, Index 27, +6.0%
- Buyers and purchasing agentsGrows with AI, Index 41, +6.0%
- Project management specialistsGrows with AI, Index 40, +6.7%
- Accountants and auditorsGrows with AI, Index 14, +5.0%
Also known as: Inside Sales Representative, Marketing Representative, Sales Representative, Energy Consultant, Solar Consultant, Solar Sales Consultant, Solar Sales Representative (Solar Sales Rep), Sales Associate.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.