Sales & Marketing
What Sales & Marketing Graduates Do
Your career in sales can take you in two main directions. You might become a first-line supervisor in a retail store, where your day involves managing schedules for your sales team, tracking inventory in the back room, and being the go-to person on the floor for tough customer issues. Alternatively, you could hit the road as a B2B sales representative, meeting with business clients to understand their needs, demonstrating how your products or services can help, and negotiating contracts.
Many graduates start in foundational roles like a parts salesperson or product demonstrator. With experience, you can advance to become a wholesale or service representative managing your own territory and client list, with earnings to match. The highest earners often specialize in complex technical or scientific products or move into supervising non-retail sales teams, where top performers can earn six-figure salaries. While growth rates vary, the massive number of annual openings creates constant opportunity. AI tools may help you analyze data or find leads, but building relationships and closing deals will remain a fundamentally human skill.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 8 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Sales & Marketing. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Manager, Retail Store
RAPIDS 578 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $38K – $47,320 – $61K | -5.0% |
|
Manager, Retail Store (Store Manager)
RAPIDS 0578CL |
Competency | Competency | $38K – $47,320 – $61K | -5.0% |
|
Purchasing Agent
RAPIDS 948 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | — | — |
|
Salesperson Parts
RAPIDS 753 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $31K – $37,440 – $48K | 3.1% |
|
Subcontract Administrator
RAPIDS 1126CB |
Competency | Competency | — | — |
|
Subcontract Administrator Assoc.
RAPIDS 1127CB |
Competency | Competency | — | — |
|
Technical Sales Representative
RAPIDS 2075 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $66K – $100,070 – $146K | 1.9% |
|
Technical Sales Representative (Alternate Title: Technical Sales Specialist)
RAPIDS 2087CB |
Competency | Competency | $66K – $100,070 – $146K | 1.9% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Sales & Marketing
16 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umpqua Community College Roseburg, OR |
86 82–88 |
$58,591/yr | 98.2x |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO |
78 75–80 |
$64,382/yr | 44.6x |
| 3 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, ND |
78 75–80 |
$55,734/yr | 50.3x |
| 4 | Weber State University Ogden, UT |
77 75–80 |
$60,215/yr | 46.1x |
| 5 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH |
76 73–78 |
$57,169/yr | 43.5x |
| 6 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, MN |
68 65–71 |
$39,563/yr | 37.2x |
| 7 | Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, PA |
65 62–67 |
$38,826/yr | 21.1x |
| 8 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WA |
64 61–66 |
$26,283/yr | 52.4x |
| 9 | Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC |
63 56–66 |
$28,150/yr | 46.7x |
| 10 | Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC |
57 53–60 |
$27,524/yr | 26.8x |
| 11 | Huntington Junior College Huntington, WV |
52 48–54 |
$25,876/yr | 9.2x |
| 12 | CET-San Jose San Jose, CA |
52 47–54 |
$15,849/yr | — |
| 13 | CET-El Centro El Centro, CA |
52 47–54 |
$15,849/yr | — |
| 14 | Michigan Career and Technical Institute Plainwell, MI |
49 45–51 |
$15,674/yr | 17.9x |
| 15 | North Country Community College Saranac Lake, NY |
46 42–48 |
$14,976/yr | 10.4x |
| 16 | Wade College Dallas, TX |
44 39–46 |
$12,995/yr | 8.9x |
Highest Earning Sales & Marketing Programs
Schools where Sales & Marketing graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| University of Missouri-Columbia | $64,382/yr | 78 |
| Weber State University | $60,215/yr | 77 |
| Umpqua Community College | $58,591/yr | 86 |
| Kent State University at Kent | $57,169/yr | 76 |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus | $55,734/yr | 78 |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | $39,563/yr | 68 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | $38,826/yr | 65 |
| Midlands Technical College | $28,150/yr | 63 |
| Greenville Technical College | $27,524/yr | 57 |
| Tacoma Community College | $26,283/yr | 64 |
Best ROI for Sales & Marketing
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Sales & Marketing.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Umpqua Community College | 98.2x | $58,591/yr | 86 |
| Tacoma Community College | 52.4x | $26,283/yr | 64 |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 50.3x | $55,734/yr | 78 |
| Midlands Technical College | 46.7x | $28,150/yr | 63 |
| Weber State University | 46.1x | $60,215/yr | 77 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | 44.6x | $64,382/yr | 78 |
| Kent State University at Kent | 43.5x | $57,169/yr | 76 |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | 37.2x | $39,563/yr | 68 |
| Greenville Technical College | 26.8x | $27,524/yr | 57 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | 21.1x | $38,826/yr | 65 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Sales & Marketing degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.