Retail Salespersons
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
How AI Impacts Each Task
24 tasks analyzed
Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
Maintain records related to sales.
Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits.
Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.
Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise.
Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales.
Inventory stock and requisition new stock.
Exchange merchandise for customers and accept returns.
Estimate and quote trade-in allowances.
Help customers try on or fit merchandise.
Bag or package purchases and wrap gifts.
Watch for and recognize security risks and thefts and know how to prevent or handle these situations.
Sell or arrange for delivery, insurance, financing, or service contracts for merchandise.
Estimate quantity and cost of merchandise required, such as paint or floor covering.
Place special orders or call other stores to find desired items.
Clean shelves, counters, and tables.
Rent merchandise to customers.
Estimate cost of repair or alteration of merchandise.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs. | 48.98Observed | 34.6% | 10% | |
| Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires. | 60.22Observed | 39.1% | 10% | |
| Maintain records related to sales. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 2% | |
| Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 10% | |
| Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental. | 62.1Observed | 57.8% | 3% | |
| Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise. | 49.68Observed | 34.9% | 8% | |
| Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices. | 52.5Observed | 70.2% | 3% | |
| Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits. | 52Estimated | 70.0% | 4% | |
| Prepare sales slips or sales contracts. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers. | 61.85Observed | 39.7% | 6% | |
| Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 4% | |
| Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales. | 43.23Observed | 50.3% | 6% | |
| Inventory stock and requisition new stock. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 4% | |
| Exchange merchandise for customers and accept returns. | 60Estimated | 73.2% | 4% | |
| Estimate and quote trade-in allowances. | 70Estimated | 77.2% | 2% | |
| Help customers try on or fit merchandise. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 3% | |
| Bag or package purchases and wrap gifts. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 4% | |
| Watch for and recognize security risks and thefts and know how to prevent or handle these situations. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 3% | |
| Sell or arrange for delivery, insurance, financing, or service contracts for merchandise. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 2% | |
| Estimate quantity and cost of merchandise required, such as paint or floor covering. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| Place special orders or call other stores to find desired items. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 2% | |
| Clean shelves, counters, and tables. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 2% | |
| Rent merchandise to customers. | 85Estimated | 83.2% | 2% | |
| Estimate cost of repair or alteration of merchandise. | 60Estimated | 73.2% | 2% |
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Retail Salespersons skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
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Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Customer Service Fundamentals
by Knowledge Accelerators
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
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Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
Related News
Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation
What GM’s autonomous vehicle strategy could mean for dealers
General Motors is advancing its autonomous vehicle rollout, prompting a shift in how auto dealerships will operate and staff their lots. The transition threatens traditional sales roles while creating new demands for AV fleet maintenance.
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Walmart is actively training its store-level associates to integrate AI into their daily workflows. Store managers are using AI for scheduling dashboards, while merchandising staff use it to convert dense text into visual graphics.
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Conversica's CEO claims dealerships can automate lead generation by using artificial intelligence to analyze years of buried customer data, shifting sales roles away from manual prospecting.
Best Buy and Gap deploy AI to boost retail worker productivity
Major brands like Best Buy, Gap, and Dick's Sporting Goods are actively deploying AI tools to streamline store operations. This signals a shift where retail employees will increasingly need to work alongside automated systems to handle inventory and customer service.
Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis