UK AI Job-Risk Index · SOC 2010 7111
Ranks #195 of 293 for AI exposure (1 = most exposed)
How exposed to AI are sales and retail assistants?
38/100
AI exposure score (percentile across all 365 occupations DfE scored)
Low#195
of 293 UK occupations (1 = most exposed)
£18,973
median full-time pay (ONS ASHE 2020) · 1,048,000 employee jobs
Sales and retail assistants sits in the low exposure band: its abilities overlap with current AI applications more than about 38% of the 365 UK occupations the Department for Education scored. Lower exposure usually means more of the work depends on physical, practical or in-person abilities that current AI applications do not cover well. It does not mean the job will be untouched by technology.
Underlying scores: AIOE (all AI) -0.46, LLM exposure -0.14 (standardised; 0 is the average occupation). Skill level: Level 2. Pay and job counts are 2020 figures, so use them to compare occupations rather than as current salaries.
Advertisement
Job titles in this occupation
Titles the ONS SOC 2010 coding index places in unit group 7111 (30 of 63 shown). If your job title is here, this page uses the right figures for you.
bacon hand · bookseller · book seller · tv salesman · dyer's agent · cheese cutter · fish salesman · laundry agent · meat salesman · programme boy · retail worker · sales adviser · shop salesman · asda colleague · motor salesman · provision hand · shop assistant · indoor salesman · kiosk assistant · kiosk attendant · naafi assistant · naafi inspector · retail salesman · sales assistant · counter salesman · personal shopper · programme seller · retail assistant · retail associate · counter assistant
Reader poll: do you think AI will change your job in the next 5 years?
Reader opinion, not science. Anyone can vote once per job; results show once at least 10 people have voted. Your IP address is hashed for rate-limiting and never stored.
Worried about this score? Get a plan
Seen your job's AI exposure? Our free 90-day plan shows practical steps to stay ahead.
One weekly email on AI and UK jobs, plus a free 90-day AI-proof career plan (PDF). No spam, unsubscribe any time.
Is your job safer than your friend's?
Send a friend this challenge. They add their job and see whose is more exposed to AI.
Embed this score on your site
Free for blogs, schools and careers sites. Please keep the credit link.
Next steps
- Role scanner: which of your tasks AI is likely to touch
- Salary-risk check and Career pathways tool
- Course checker and Parent briefing
- Careers articles
- All sales and customer service occupations · all 293 occupations A–Z
- Personal task score: tick the tasks you actually do
- Free weekly email + 90-day AI-proof career plan (PDF)
Lower-risk related jobs
Occupations in the same SOC 2010 major group (Sales and customer service occupations) with a lower AI exposure score, highest-paid first. Pay difference is against £18,973 (ONS ASHE 2020 median, full-time). Switching usually needs retraining; this is a starting point, not advice.
| Occupation | Exposure | Median pay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merchandisers and window dressers | 19/100 | £24,226 | +£5,253 |
Occupations with similar exposure
- Farmers (38/100)
- Routine inspectors and testers (38/100)
- Conservation and environmental associate professionals (39/100)
- Beauticians and related occupations (37/100)
FAQ: Sales and retail assistants and AI
Will AI replace sales and retail assistants?
The index does not predict job losses. Sales and retail assistants has an AI exposure score of 38/100 (low band), ranking #195 of 293 UK occupations, where 1 is the most exposed. Lower exposure means more of the work relies on abilities current AI applications cover less well.
How does this compare with similar jobs?
Sales and retail assistants is one of 9 occupations in its SOC 2010 sub-major group in the index; 7 of the others are more exposed to AI.
How much do sales and retail assistants earn?
Median gross annual pay for full-time employees was £18,973 in ONS ASHE 2020 (Table 14), across about 1,048,000 employee jobs. These are 2020 figures, so use them to compare jobs rather than as current salaries.
Which related jobs are less exposed to AI?
In the same major group, lower-exposure occupations include Merchandisers and window dressers (19/100, £24,226).
Where does this data come from?
AI exposure uses Department for Education (2023) AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) scores; pay and job counts come from ONS ASHE 2020. Job titles come from the ONS SOC 2010 coding index.
Source: Department for Education (2023), The impact of AI on UK jobs and training (AIOE scores); ONS ASHE 2020 Table 14; job titles from the ONS SOC 2010 coding index (v7). Exposure is not a prediction of job loss. Methodology · Embed this data
Cite this
For essays, coursework and articles. Please also cite the original DfE and ONS sources listed in the methodology.
APA (7th)
Plain text