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Local sales associate education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a local sales associate. Local sales associates usually study business, communication, or accounting. 63% of local sales associates hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 203 real local sales associate resumes to see exactly what local sales associate education sections show.

The most common colleges for local sales associates are the University of California - Davis and the University of California - Davis.

There are also many online local sales associate courses to help get the education required to be a local sales associate.

What education do you need to become a local sales associate?

What degree do you need to be a local sales associate?

The most common degree for local sales associates is bachelor's degree, with 63% of local sales associates earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 13% and associate degree degree at 9%.
  • Bachelor's, 63%
  • Associate, 13%
  • High School Diploma, 9%
  • Master's, 8%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a local sales associate?

You should major in business to become a local sales associate. 29% of local sales associates major in business. Other common majors for a local sales associate include communication and accounting.

Most common colleges for local sales associates

Local sales associates often get their degrees at University of California - Davis, University of Washington, and University of San Francisco. Here are the most common colleges for local sales associates in the US based on their resumes.
Local sales associate common collegePercentages
University of California - Davis9.09%
University of Washington6.06%
University of San Francisco6.06%
University of California, Santa Barbara6.06%
Bowling Green State University6.06%

Best majors for local sales associates

RankMajorPercentages
1Business28.7%
2Communication11.5%
3Accounting9.2%
4Psychology4.6%
5History3.4%

Best colleges for local sales associates

The best colleges for local sales associates are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

A local sales associate with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for local sales associates. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become local sales associates.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

4. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

5. Baylor University

Waco, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$45,542

Enrollment

14,159

6. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,570

Enrollment

3,721

7. Ball State University

Muncie, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,896

Enrollment

15,529

8. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,555

Enrollment

30,360

9. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

10. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Enrollment

9,394

20 best online courses for local sales associates

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Top 10 most affordable universities for local sales associates

The most affordable schools for local sales associates are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for local sales associates are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for local sales associates.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

5. Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$5,740

Cost of attendance

17,864

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

8. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

9. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

10. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for local sales associates

The hardest universities for local sales associates to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for local sales associates are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for local sales associates based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

5. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. Fordham University

Bronx, NY • Private

Admissions rate

46%

SAT average

1,354

8. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

10. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,448

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for local sales associates

The easiest schools for local sales associates to get into are Barry University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and notre dame de namur university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a local sales associate without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for local sales associates.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

3. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

4. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

5. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

6. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

7. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

8. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

9. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

10. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

994

Average local sales associate salary by education level

According to our data, local sales associates with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $63,974 annually. Local sales associates with a Doctorate degree earn an average annual salary of $62,122.
Local sales associate education levelLocal sales associate salary
Master's Degree$63,974
High School Diploma or Less$48,374
Bachelor's Degree$59,114
Doctorate Degree$62,122
Some College/ Associate Degree$49,719

Local sales associate education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.