AI exposure score

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers score 49 out of 100, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks #267 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 21 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 2 on its own and 17 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 9 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

49/ 100

Elevated

Rank: #267of 923 jobs
US workers: 1,121,800BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $48,520a year
In real AI use: 9 of 21tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 2 (10%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 17 (81%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 2 (10%)

Plan and prepare work schedules and keep records of employees' work schedules and time cards.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Establish credit policies and operating procedures.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Provide customer service by greeting and assisting customers and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or in performing services for customers.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Examine merchandise to ensure that it is correctly priced and displayed and that it functions as advertised.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Monitor sales activities to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service and quality goods.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Instruct staff on how to handle difficult and complicated sales.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Assign employees to specific duties.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Keep records of purchases, sales, and requisitions.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Review inventory and sales records to prepare reports for management and budget departments.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Inventory stock and reorder when inventory drops to a specified level.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Establish and implement policies, goals, objectives, and procedures for the department.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Examine products purchased for resale or received for storage to assess the condition of each product or item.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Estimate consumer demand and determine the types and amounts of goods to be sold.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Confer with company officials to develop methods and procedures to increase sales, expand markets, and promote business.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Formulate pricing policies for merchandise, according to profitability requirements.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Hire, train, and evaluate personnel in sales or marketing establishments, promoting or firing workers when appropriate.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Plan and coordinate advertising campaigns and sales promotions and prepare merchandise displays and advertising copy.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Plan budgets and authorize payments and merchandise returns.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Perform work activities of subordinates, such as cleaning and organizing shelves and displays and selling merchandise.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Enforce safety, health, and security rules.Little or no AI speed-up · core task

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Questions about first-line supervisors of retail sales workers and AI

Will AI replace first-line supervisors of retail sales workers?

Not entirely. Parts of the job are likely to change as AI takes over routine tasks. First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers score 49 out of 100 (elevated exposure), #267 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 19 of the job's 21 tasks, 2 of them on its own, while 2 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which first-line supervisors of retail sales workers tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Plan and prepare work schedules and keep records of employees' work schedules and time cards"; "Establish credit policies and operating procedures".

Which first-line supervisors of retail sales workers tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Perform work activities of subordinates, such as cleaning and organizing shelves and displays and selling merchandise"; "Enforce safety, health, and security rules".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 9 of the 21 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as first-line supervisors of retail sales workers, and what do they earn?

About 1,121,800 people in the US, with median pay of $48,520 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.