Sales Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
AI Impact Summary
Sales Managers faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 25/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 20% of all analyzed occupations. Of 17 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics 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.
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.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Sales Managers 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
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
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.
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
How AI Impacts Each Task
17 tasks analyzed
Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate or other subjects of sale.
Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
Determine price schedules and discount rates.
Prepare budgets and approve budget expenditures.
Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
Assess marketing potential of new and existing store locations, considering statistics and expenditures.
Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.
Direct, coordinate, and review activities in sales and service accounting and record-keeping, and in receiving and shipping operations.
Visit franchised dealers to stimulate interest in establishment or expansion of leasing programs.
Direct clerical staff to keep records of export correspondence, bid requests, and credit collections, and to maintain current information on tariffs, licenses, and restrictions.
Advise dealers and distributors on policies and operating procedures to ensure functional effectiveness of business.
Confer or consult with department heads to plan advertising services and to secure information on equipment and customer specifications.
Direct foreign sales and service outlets of an organization.
Represent company at trade association meetings to promote products.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate or other subjects of sale. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 15% | |
| Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service. | 47.6Observed | 34.0% | 10% | |
| Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase. | 47.02Observed | 33.8% | 8% | |
| Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability. | 57.8Observed | 50.1% | 8% | |
| Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 10% | |
| Determine price schedules and discount rates. | 38.9Observed | 42.6% | 5% | |
| Prepare budgets and approve budget expenditures. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 5% | |
| Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 5% | |
| Assess marketing potential of new and existing store locations, considering statistics and expenditures. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 4% | |
| Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 8% | |
| Direct, coordinate, and review activities in sales and service accounting and record-keeping, and in receiving and shipping operations. | 85Estimated | 83.2% | 5% | |
| Visit franchised dealers to stimulate interest in establishment or expansion of leasing programs. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 3% | |
| Direct clerical staff to keep records of export correspondence, bid requests, and credit collections, and to maintain current information on tariffs, licenses, and restrictions. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 3% | |
| Advise dealers and distributors on policies and operating procedures to ensure functional effectiveness of business. | 69.8Observed | 42.9% | 4% | |
| Confer or consult with department heads to plan advertising services and to secure information on equipment and customer specifications. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 3% | |
| Direct foreign sales and service outlets of an organization. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 2% | |
| Represent company at trade association meetings to promote products. | 65.15Observed | 41.1% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 34.0%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$138,060
per year
Mean Wage
$160,930
per year
Employment
604K
workers
Wage Range
$66,910 - $239,200
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsTransportation Managers
28%Median salary: $102,010
Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Human Resources Managers
28%Median salary: $140,030
Higher risk than 30% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Median salary: $161,030
Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
30%Higher risk than 39% of other occupations
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
30%Median salary: $100,070
Higher risk than 41% of other occupations
Training and Development Managers
31%Median salary: $127,090
Higher risk than 42% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Median salary: $126,960
Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Financial Managers, Branch or Department
32%Median salary: $161,700
Higher risk than 50% of other occupations
Logistics Managers
32%Median salary: $102,010
Higher risk than 50% of other occupations
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
33%Median salary: $84,130
Higher risk than 54% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Financial Managers
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Sales Managers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Persuasion
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Negotiation
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 3 scoring runs
overall change