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 post-secondary education.
AI Impact Summary
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 30/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 41% of all analyzed occupations. Of 36 analyzed tasks, 6 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 Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Information Ordering 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)
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation 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.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products 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
Machine Learning Specialization
by Stanford / DeepLearning.AI
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
Negotiation, Mediation, and Conflict Resolution
by ESSEC Business School
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
36 tasks analyzed
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.
Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.
Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs.
Emphasize product features based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations.
Compute customer's installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment.
Demonstrate the operation or use of technical or scientific products.
Provide feedback to product design teams so that products can be tailored to clients' needs.
Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations.
Prepare sales presentations or proposals to explain product specifications or applications.
Complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork.
Verify that delivery schedules meet project deadlines.
Identify prospective customers using business directories, leads from existing clients, participation in organizations, or trade show or conference attendance.
Arrange for installation and testing of products or machinery.
Inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertaining to purchased products.
Collaborate with colleagues to exchange information, such as selling strategies or marketing information.
Initiate sales campaigns to meet sales and production expectations.
Provide customers with ongoing technical support.
Advise customers on product usage to improve production.
Obtain building blueprints or specifications for use by engineering departments in bid preparations.
Verify accuracy of materials lists.
Verify customer credit ratings.
Appraise equipment to determine contract terms or trade-in values.
Consult with engineers regarding technical problems with products.
Sell technical and scientific products that are environmentally sound or designed for environmental remediation.
Study documentation or other information for new scientific or technical products.
Stock or distribute resources, such as samples or promotional or educational materials.
Attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, environmental regulations, or industry developments.
Visit establishments, such as pharmacies, to determine product sales.
Present information to customers about the energy efficiency or environmental impact of scientific or technical products.
Inform customers about issues related to responsible use and disposal of products, such as waste reduction or product or byproduct recycling or disposal.
Research and convey information to customers about tax benefits or government rebates associated with energy-efficient scientific or technical products, such as solar panels.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements. | 40.97Observed | 31.4% | 3% | |
| Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders. | 41.67Observed | 65.9% | 2% | |
| Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 3% | |
| Sell service contracts for technical or scientific products. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 1% | |
| Maintain customer records, using automated systems. | 31.17Observed | 61.7% | 2% | |
| Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms. | 51.68Observed | 35.7% | 3% | |
| Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications. | 44.33Observed | 66.9% | 2% | |
| Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs. | 38.8Observed | 30.5% | 3% | |
| Emphasize product features based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations. | 50Observed | 35.0% | 3% | |
| Compute customer's installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 2% | |
| Demonstrate the operation or use of technical or scientific products. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 2% | |
| Provide feedback to product design teams so that products can be tailored to clients' needs. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 1% | |
| Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations. | 56.9Observed | 37.8% | 2% | |
| Prepare sales presentations or proposals to explain product specifications or applications. | 50.92Observed | 47.4% | 2% | |
| Complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| Verify that delivery schedules meet project deadlines. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 1% | |
| Identify prospective customers using business directories, leads from existing clients, participation in organizations, or trade show or conference attendance. | 48.35Observed | 68.5% | 2% | |
| Arrange for installation and testing of products or machinery. | 77Estimated | 80.0% | 1% | |
| Inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertaining to purchased products. | 37.28Observed | 64.1% | 2% | |
| Collaborate with colleagues to exchange information, such as selling strategies or marketing information. | 42.12Observed | 31.9% | 2% | |
| Initiate sales campaigns to meet sales and production expectations. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 2% | |
| Provide customers with ongoing technical support. | 48.5Observed | 46.4% | 2% | |
| Advise customers on product usage to improve production. | 61.78Observed | 39.7% | 2% | |
| Obtain building blueprints or specifications for use by engineering departments in bid preparations. | 60.95Observed | 73.6% | 1% | |
| Verify accuracy of materials lists. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 1% | |
| Verify customer credit ratings. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 1% | |
| Appraise equipment to determine contract terms or trade-in values. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 1% | |
| Consult with engineers regarding technical problems with products. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 2% | |
| Sell technical and scientific products that are environmentally sound or designed for environmental remediation. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 1% | |
| Study documentation or other information for new scientific or technical products. | 41.77Observed | 43.7% | 2% | |
| Stock or distribute resources, such as samples or promotional or educational materials. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 8% | |
| Attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, environmental regulations, or industry developments. | 51Observed | 47.4% | 13% | |
| Visit establishments, such as pharmacies, to determine product sales. | 52.73Observed | 36.1% | 15% | |
| Present information to customers about the energy efficiency or environmental impact of scientific or technical products. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 8% | |
| Inform customers about issues related to responsible use and disposal of products, such as waste reduction or product or byproduct recycling or disposal. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 5% | |
| Research and convey information to customers about tax benefits or government rebates associated with energy-efficient scientific or technical products, such as solar panels. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 3% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 28.9%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$100,070
per year
Mean Wage
$114,520
per year
Employment
294K
workers
Wage Range
$48,840 - $194,890
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products 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.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Information Ordering
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics 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.
- Persuasion
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Negotiation
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change