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Retail representative education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, retail representatives don't need a college education. The most common degree for retail representatives is bachelor's degree with 44% graduates, with only 22% retail representative graduates earning associate degree. Retail representatives who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Western Michigan University. Some good skills to have in this position include flexibility, store management and certification programs.

What education do you need to become a retail representative?

What degree do you need to be a retail representative?

The most common degree for retail representatives is bachelor's degree, with 44% of retail representatives earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 22% and associate degree degree at 21%.
  • Bachelor's, 44%
  • Associate, 22%
  • High School Diploma, 21%
  • Diploma, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a retail representative?

You should major in business to become a retail representative. 32% of retail representatives major in business. Other common majors for a retail representative include marketing and general studies.

Best majors for retail representatives

RankMajorPercentages
1Business31.8%
2Marketing7.8%
3General Studies7.1%
4Criminal Justice4.9%
5Accounting4.6%

20 best online courses for retail representatives

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1. Retail Customer Service

coursera

The Retail Customer Service course examines the day-to-day tasks that will be tackled in a retail customer service setting, including advanced skills such as returns and exchanges. You will apply guidelines for transactions such as sales, returns, exchanges, and data entry for customer information in real simulations. You will also observe the skills within a retail community location, evaluating the types of tasks observed and shared with a group of peers. You will complete sample transactions...

2. CVS Health Retail Customer Service

coursera

The demand for customer service representatives is huge, there are thousands of open job roles in the US alone. This program prepares you for a retail customer service role. Retail customer service is an exciting career where every day is a new day and a new adventure. The target audience for this certificate is anyone who is customer obsessed and is looking to launch a career in retail customer service.\n\nThis program uniquely prepares you for your new role by using a blend of videos,...

3. Store Design: How to Design Successful Retail Stores

udemy
4.2
(358)

Everything you need to know to create effective brick & mortar retail stores: Image, Display, Storefront, and Lighting...

4. MBA: Retail business, Merchandising, and E-commerce

udemy
4.5
(307)

Build and grow your own retail business and e-commerce...

5. Salesforce Sales Development Representative

coursera

If you’ve always wanted a rewarding career, the tech sales industry may be the path for you. If you’re an ambitious problem-solver who likes to win, you’ll find tech sales not only fulfilling, but lucrative as well. As the tech industry continuously introduces innovative services and products, tech sales roles have become more crucial than ever. SDRs are in the front lines of the tech biz, connecting with customers and clients, and coming up with the smartest solutions for their problems. Sales...

6. Omnichannel Retail Strategy

coursera

This Specialization provides learners with insight about operating in a transformed retail industry. You'll learn how to navigate the disruption in retail marketing caused by COVID-19 and to develop a framework to create a competitive strategy that focuses on a new customer-centric approach to marketing. You'll also learn the fundamentals of human capital management, with a focus on the retail industry, and do a deep dive into some of the practices that drive organizational success. Finally,...

7. Open To buy- Retail Merchandising Planning

udemy
4.4
(1,470)

Merchandise Financial Planning...

8. Retail Management

udemy
4.3
(364)

Retailing includes all business activities involved in selling goods and services to end consumers...

9. Fashion Retail Transformation

coursera

In this course, Parsons faculty and industry experts dive deep into the transformation of fashion retail. You’ll explore the fusion of retail and entertainment and the increasing importance of omnichannel client relationships. Through an examination of disruptive retail innovations, such as on-demand delivery and virtual reality, you’ll learn how industry leaders are keeping up with customer expectations. You’ll look at e-commerce strategies through the lens of listening to and applying...

10. SAP for Retail Essentials: Learn SAP Retail Introduction

udemy
4.6
(533)

Easy to Follow SAP Retail Introduction: Both Core and Advanced Retail overview in just 6 hours with 4 hours of demos...

11. Fast Track Retail Buying and Merchandising

udemy
4.6
(3,982)

The essentials of merchandise management, buying, range planning, product development and many more...

12. Professional Diploma in Digitalization of Retail Banking

udemy
4.2
(272)

Digital at sales, cross-sale, loyalty increase and costs, risks decrease. Practical cases and profitability assessment...

13. Master the Shopper Experience to build your retail business.

udemy
4.5
(1,848)

Grow your retail business by mastering the 3 key steps that build a great shopper experience to delight your customers...

14. Diploma Course in Retail Management

udemy
4.3
(397)

Enhance your skills (Operations/Sales/VM/HR/SCM) in the ever growing Retail industry - Cover latest trends, casestudies...

15. Visual Merchandising Course For Retailers and Students

udemy
4.2
(949)

Learn the key principles of great Visual Merchandising & Window Dressing...

16. Retail for Business Analysts and Management Consultants

udemy
4.6
(2,563)

A practical guide with cases studies how to analyze and improve a retail business during management consulting projects...

17. Marketing Analytics & Retail Business Management using Excel

udemy
4.4
(1,259)

Retail analytics using MS Excel - Covering Forecasting, Market Basket, RFM, Customer Valuation & Price Bundling...

18. B2B Sales Objections Simplified

udemy
4.6
(1,641)

B2B Sales Skill: Learn How to Handle the Most Common Sales Objections, Over the Phone and in Person!...

19. The Complete B2B Sales Masterclass: 6 Courses in 1

udemy
4
(413)

1. Generate Leads, 2. Pitch, 3. Close & Handle Any Objection: Get Certified in Cutting Edge, Non-Pushy B2B Sales System...

20. Sales Fire: B2B Sales & Business Development for Startups

udemy
4.6
(584)

The Ultimate Sales Methodology for Business Development & B2B Sales to Learn Sales Strategy, Sales Skills & Deal Closing...

Average retail representative salary by education level

According to our data, retail representatives with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $34,152 annually. Retail representatives with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $33,974.
Retail representative education levelRetail representative salary
Master's Degree$34,152
High School Diploma or Less$31,592
Bachelor's Degree$33,974
Some College/ Associate Degree$32,096

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.