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Occupational Requirements Survey
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Sales and related occupations
This occupational group includes cashiers, rental clerks, retail salespersons, advertising sales agents, travel agents, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, models, demonstrators, product promoters, sales engineers, real estate brokers, street vendors, and telemarketers.
For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.
Cognitive and mental requirements
The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.
In 2025, external verbal interactions were required constantly (every few minutes) for 68.1 percent of sales and related workers. External verbal interactions were required more than once per hour (but not constantly) for 26.6 percent.
| Requirement | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
|
Work schedule varies |
60.5 | 39.5 |
|
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks) |
45.8 | 54.2 |
|
Working around crowds |
0.6 | 99.4 |
|
Telework routinely allowed |
15.7 | 84.3 |
|
Supervising others |
11.3 | 88.7 |
|
Supervisor present in immediate work area |
62.9 | 37.1 |
|
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey |
||
Education, training, and experience requirements
The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.
In 2025, prior work experience was required for 33.3 percent of sales and related workers and on-the-job training was required for 92.2 percent.
No minimum education was required for 54.0 percent of sales and related workers and a high school diploma was required for 34.1 percent.
Environmental conditions
The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.
In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 13.3 percent of sales and related workers. Another 86.4 percent were exposed to moderate noise, less than 0.5 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by 1.3 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by 98.7 percent.
Physical demands
The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.
In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of sales and related workers and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 47.3 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 52.1 percent speaking was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent speaking was required constantly.
Performing work in low postures was required for 60.9 percent of sales and related workers and was not required for 39.1 percent.
The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 26.8 percent of sales and related workers. On average, workers spent 33.1 percent of the workday sitting and 66.9 percent of the workday standing.
| Requirement | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
|
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks |
26.8 | 73.2 |
|
Driving |
24.6 | 75.4 |
|
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs |
9.7 | 90.3 |
|
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey |
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