Takeover Tracker
27%medium risk
Hearing Aid Specialists
vs

37 shared · 35 different

core competencies

39%medium risk
Retail Salespersons

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricHearing Aid SpecialistsRetail Salespersons
Risk Score26.9%39.5%
Risk TierMedium RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile25th79th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)2 / 1110 / 15
Median Salary$61,560$34,580
Employment11K3.8M

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Assisting and Caring for Others
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Education and Training
Performing Administrative Activities
Documenting/Recording Information
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Computers and Electronics
Analyzing Data or Information
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Developing Objectives and Strategies
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Hearing Aid Specialists

33%

total discount

Retail Salespersons

30%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Hearing Aid Specialists

2 of 11 at risk
84%Administer basic hearing tests including air conduction, bone conduction, or speech audiometry tests.
78%Assist audiologists in performing aural procedures, such as real ear measurements, speech audiometry, auditory brainstem responses, electronystagmography, and cochlear implant mapping.
49%Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in audiology.
47%Perform basic screening procedures, such as pure tone screening, otoacoustic screening, immittance screening, and screening of ear canal status using otoscope.
47%Diagnose and treat hearing or related disabilities under the direction of an audiologist.

Retail Salespersons

10 of 15 at risk
87%Maintain records related to sales.
86%Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.
85%Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
85%Inventory stock and requisition new stock.
77%Estimate and quote trade-in allowances.

Wage Comparison

Retail Salespersons earns -$26,980(-44%) vs Hearing Aid Specialists
Hearing Aid SpecialistsRetail Salespersons
10th
$36,950$25,600
25th
$47,150$29,140
Median
$61,560$34,580
75th
$78,110$37,850
90th
$91,000$47,930

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Hearing Aid Specialists2028–2035
Retail Salespersons2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Hearing Aid Specialists has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Retail Salespersons.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Hearing Aid Specialists

$44,976

from $61,560

Retail Salespersons

$20,928

from $34,580

After adjusting for AI risk, Hearing Aid Specialists offers $24,048 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Hearing

0

Unique to Retail

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Decision Complexity
Regulatory Barriers
Fine Manipulation
Creativity
Hearing Aid SpecialistsRetail Salespersons
Find transitions from Hearing Aid SpecialistsFind transitions from Retail Salespersons