by our College Data Analytics TeamHave you ever wondered how your favorite snack food gets from the supplier to the store shelf? Who makes the decisions on what products to offer on the grocery store aisle? By majoring in General Sales and Marketing, you will learn the process behind how products get into the marketplace. This program will teach students the process and techniques behind wholesale and retail buying and selling operations.
There are a few different concentrations associated with this major; they include Merchandising and Buying Operations, Retailing and Retail Operations, and Selling Skills and Sales Operations.
While pursuing this major, you will be taking a variety of courses; they include consumer behavior, marketing research, sales management, and professional selling. This major is commonly offered as a Bachelor's degree.
In 2021-2022, general sales & marketing was the 139th most popular major nationwide with 5,450 degrees awarded. Our 2025 Best General Sales & Marketing Schools ranking analyzes 51 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for general sales & marketing students. Explore this or one of our many other custom sales & marketing rankings further below.
Students must be persuasive in order to find success in sales and marketing. Deals and negotiations are all a part of sales, therefore being able to communicate effectively is important. Persistence is another key skill to possess. Much of your time will be spent interacting with others, both in groups and one-on-one. Students should work on their interpersonal skills while in college.
Nothing can prepare you for the field like first-hand experience. Explore any internship opportunities offered through your college or in local businesses. Part time work in retail, customer service or sales can also give you great insight into the field.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most sales & marketing degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional sales & marketing certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of sales & marketing degrees. You can get anything from a in general sales & marketing to the highest sales & marketing degree, a . The type of sales & marketing degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to sales & marketing, with approximately 35.9% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to sales & marketing tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 38.0% |
| High School Diploma | 28.8% |
| Some College Courses | 11.2% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 10.3% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 5.8% |
See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in general sales & marketing have received.
The education level required is different depending on the sales & marketing career you are seeking.
There are many different career paths that students can enter into with a degree in General Sales and Marketing. Buyers and Purchasers buy from suppliers in order to fill stores that consumers shop in, while Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to various business or organizations. Other career options include Store Operations, Product Developer, Store Management and Sales Representatives. Typically jobs in sales remain fairly stable, as businesses always need to sell their products. However, other jobs may be more competitive.
Want a job when you graduate with your sales & marketing degree? General Sales & Marketing careers are expected to grow 4.5% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general sales & marketing.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Sales Supervisors | 1,590,100 | 3.8% |
| Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives | 1,546,300 | 5.2% |
| Sales Representatives | 1,077,900 | 9.7% |
| Sales Supervisors | 425,200 | 4.9% |
| Wholesale Scientific Products Sales Representatives | 361,300 | 5.2% |
Recently graduated general sales & marketing students earned an average of $50,852 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $12,995 to as high as $108,258. As you might expect, salaries for sales & marketing graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for general sales & marketing graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers sales & marketing grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Wholesale Scientific Products Sales Representatives | $91,830 |
| Sales Supervisors | $84,600 |
| Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives | $69,480 |
| Sales Representatives | $64,860 |
| Advertising Sales Agents | $63,360 |
With over 561 different sales & marketing degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased sales & marketing school rankings to help you with this.
General Sales & Marketing is one of 21 different types of Business, Management & Marketing programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration & Management | 403,753 |
| Accounting | 93,982 |
| General Business/Commerce | 56,779 |
| Finance & Financial Management | 54,690 |
| Marketing | 52,078 |
Image Credit: By Nick Nijhuis under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
