Careers: account executive, retail store manager, sales manager, insurance agent, and real estate agent. Majors: Sales and Merchandising, Marketing, Real Estate, and Fashion Design and Merchandising.
College majors for sales and retail
Sales and Merchandising
Teaches professional selling, retail management and merchandising.
Marketing
Studies how organizations understand customers and promote products and services.
Real Estate
Studies how property is bought, sold, financed, developed and managed.
Fashion Design and Merchandising
Studies how clothing and accessories are designed, made and sold.
Careers in sales and retail
Account Executive
Sell services and software to businesses and grow client accounts.
- Typical training: 1–6 months
Retail Store Manager
Lead retail teams and run stores that hit their sales goals.
- Typical training: 2–5 years of retail experience
Sales Manager
Lead sales teams, set goals and drive revenue growth.
- Typical training: 4 years plus 3–5 years in sales
Insurance Agent
Help people and businesses protect what matters with the right insurance.
- Typical training: 2–8 weeks for licensing
Real Estate Agent
Help people buy, sell and rent homes and property: licensed by your state.
- Typical training: 1–6 months (licensing)
Technical Sales Representative
Sell technical, medical and scientific products to professionals.
- Typical training: 4 years plus product training
Retail Sales Associate
Help shoppers find what they need and keep stores running smoothly.
- Typical training: 1–2 weeks
Cashier
Ring up purchases, handle payments and give customers a friendly checkout.
- Typical training: Several days
Stock Associate
Keep shelves full and pick orders in stores and warehouses.
- Typical training: Several days
Skills these careers use
- Negotiation
- Merchandising
- Territory management
- Product knowledge
- POS operation
- Cash handling
Minors that fit this interest
- Professional Sales: Adds selling, negotiation and client relationship skills.
Start building skills now
A self-paced online course on what account executives do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: prospecting, discovery and qualification, and product demos
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Sales and Retail
A self-paced online course on what retail store managers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: sales management, scheduling and payroll, and inventory and shrink control
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Sales and Retail
A self-paced online course on what sales managers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: sales forecasting, pipeline management, and coaching
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Sales and Retail
A self-paced online course on what insurance agents do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: insurance products and coverage, quoting and rating software, and needs analysis
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Sales and Retail
Sales and Retail: frequently asked questions
What careers are there in sales and retail?
Careers connected to sales and retail include account executive, retail store manager, sales manager, insurance agent, real estate agent, technical sales representative, retail sales associate, and cashier.
What should I major in if I am interested in sales and retail?
Majors connected to sales and retail include Sales and Merchandising, Marketing, Real Estate, and Fashion Design and Merchandising. Compare what each includes, the skills it builds and where it leads.
What sales and retail careers do not require a four-year degree?
Examples include account executive, retail store manager, insurance agent, real estate agent, retail sales associate, and cashier. They typically start with a high school diploma, a certificate, an associate degree, an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Which sales and retail careers usually require a bachelor’s degree or more?
Examples include sales manager, technical sales representative, financial services sales agent, marketing manager, and sales engineer. Some also need a license or certification.
What skills do you need for a career in sales and retail?
Skills that come up often in these careers include negotiation, merchandising, territory management, product knowledge, POS operation, and cash handling, along with communication and problem solving.
What minors fit an interest in sales and retail?
Minors connected to sales and retail include Professional Sales.
How do I start a career in sales and retail?
Learn about the careers in the field, choose one or two that fit you, check the education or training each requires, and build practical knowledge early through classes, part-time work, volunteering or short career training.
Can I explore sales and retail careers before choosing a college major?
Yes. Career profiles, job shadowing and short online career training let you learn what jobs in sales and retail involve before you commit to a major or program.
Does Career Education Institute offer training related to sales and retail?
Yes. Related online trainings include Account Executive Training, Retail Store Manager Training, Sales Manager Training, and Insurance Agent Training. They are general, non-credit courses that teach what a job involves; they do not grant a degree or license.
Which colleges offer programs related to sales and retail?
Use the college search to find U.S. colleges that report awarding degrees in related majors, filtered by state, city, ZIP code, online programs and type of school.