by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Professional Sales explores Selling Skills And Sales Operations. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Possess The Skills Associated With Direct Promotion Of Products And Services To Potential Customers And To Function As Independent Sales Representatives And Managers. Includes Instruction In Consumer Psychology, Image Projection, Public Speaking And Interpersonal Communications, Sales Organization And Operations, Customer Relations, Professional Standards And Ethics, And Applicable Technical Skills. Continue reading for the essential details every professional sales major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering professional sales programs.
In the U.S., professional sales is a widely-pursued major, with 1,566 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Professional Sales Schools ranking analyzes these 82 schools to determine the best overall colleges for professional sales students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of professional sales programs later in this article.
Programs in Professional Sales develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations professional sales graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a professional sales program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a professional sales major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several professional sales degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 67 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 69 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 506 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 896 |
People currently working in careers related to professional sales tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 32.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 18.7% |
| Some college courses | 13.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.2% |
| Master’s degree | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in professional sales careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying professional sales can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to professional sales.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to professional sales.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising Sales Agents | 1,158,077 | 11.9% |
| Parts Salespersons | 1,068,511 | 7.9% |
| Travel Agents | 926,319 | -3.5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 830,802 | 5.3% |
| Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors | 652,173 | 7.5% |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | 498,256 | 3.6% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | 328,504 | -3.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | 269,153 | 4.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of professional sales graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $52,294 |
| 4 years | $56,564 |
| 5 years | $66,475 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for professional sales graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers professional sales grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Travel Agents | $65,314 |
| Advertising Sales Agents | $63,488 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $61,441 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $60,515 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $53,224 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $39,468 |
| Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors | $31,788 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $28,072 |
With 82 different professional sales programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased professional sales school rankings to help you.
Those considering professional sales, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General | 3,325 |
| Retailing and Retail Operations | 1,000 |
| General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other | 223 |
| Merchandising and Buying Operations | 57 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
