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Sales Associate Education Requirements
Updated April 5, 2024
2 min read
Quoted Experts
Dr. Barbara Joyce,
Margie Bernard MBA
Usually, sales associates don't need a college education. The most common degree for sales associates is bachelor's degree with 38% graduates, with only 32% sales associate graduates earning high school diploma. Sales associates who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Miami Dade College. Some good skills to have in this position include customer service, sales floor and cash handling.
The educational requirements for a sales associate typically include a high school diploma, as indicated by 63.45% of those in the field. However, some positions may require a certificate or an associate degree. According to Margie Bernard MBA, Faculty - Graduate Healthcare Administration at Saint Xavier University - Chicago, IL, "A certificate on how to make Lean Process Improvements, which is something we offer to our graduate management students, teaches young graduates how to add value to every patient's experience while assuring that wasteful workflow actions or steps are driven out." This suggests that additional certifications can enhance a sales associate's skills and employability.
What education do you need to become a sales associate?
What degree do you need to be a sales associate?
- Bachelor's, 38%
- High School Diploma, 32%
- Associate, 18%
- Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 6%
What should I major in to become a sales associate?
The best college majors for a sales associate are business, psychology, and general studies. According to Dr. Barbara Joyce, ACCESS Academic Advisor for undergraduate students in Sociology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a BA in Sociology is advantageous as it is a liberal arts degree with broad subject matter, allowing graduates to pursue various careers. However, technical skills such as critical thinking, strong verbal and written communication, synthetic and analytical thinking are also crucial for sales associates, as mentioned by Daniel Miller Ph.D., Associate Professor of Religion and Social Thought at Landmark College.
- Business, 23%
- Psychology, 9%
- General Studies, 8%
- Criminal Justice, 7%
- Other Majors, 53%
Best majors for sales associates
The best college majors for a sales associate are business, psychology, and general studies. According to Dr. Barbara Joyce, ACCESS Academic Advisor for undergraduate students in Sociology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a BA in Sociology is advantageous as it is a liberal arts degree with broad subject matter, allowing graduates to pursue various careers. However, technical skills such as critical thinking, strong verbal and written communication, synthetic and analytical thinking are also crucial for sales associates, as mentioned by Daniel Miller Ph.D., Associate Professor of Religion and Social Thought at Landmark College.
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 22.6% |
| 2 | Psychology | 8.6% |
| 3 | General Studies | 7.6% |
| 4 | Criminal Justice | 6.6% |
| 5 | Communication | 6.0% |
20 best online courses for sales associates
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1. The Complete B2B Sales Masterclass: 6 Courses in 1
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3. Sales Training: Practical Sales Techniques
Sales Hacking: Essential sales skills, sales strategies and sales techniques to sell just about anything!...
4. PHP for Beginners to Inventory POS Sales Project - AdminLTE
Create Inventory POS System Project With Billing by use of Bootstrap Responsive Admin LTE Dashboard With PHP PHP7 MYSQL...
5. Sales Skills: 9 Sales Training Courses In 1
Develop Extraordinary Sales Skills With The Ultimate Sales Training (Taught By 5 Top Sales Experts)...
6. Sales Fire: B2B Sales & Business Development for Startups
The Ultimate Sales Methodology for Business Development & B2B Sales to Learn Sales Strategy, Sales Skills & Deal Closing...
7. Sales Training: How To Close More Sales
Closing Sales: Sales Training Course: Sales Skills; Selling Techniques; Sales Strategies for B2B, B2C Direct Sales...
8. Sales Machine: The Sales Training B2B Master Course
Learn Sales Strategies & Sales Techniques to Sell ANYTHING for Entrepreneurs, Startup, B2B Sales, & Business Development...
9. Sales Training: Become A Sales Superstar
Develop Advanced Sales Skills To Sell Anything Like A Champ (Taught By A World-class Salesman)...
10. Sales Training Pro: The Complete Sales Presentation Course
Practical, Hands-on Sales Techniques and Tools to Effortlessly Engage your Customers In Your Sales Presentations...
11. B2B Sales Skills: LinkedIn Lead Generation, Cold Email Sales
High-ticket B2B sales and marketing. Generate leads, sell to big companies, and win large deals. Learn sales skills!...
12. Sales Funnels Masterclass: Increase Sales With Sales Funnels
Learn to create highly converting sales, conduct professional email marketing & 10X your sales with sales funnel fast!...
13. SAP S/4HANA Sales (SD - Sales and Distribution)
The course covers both configuration and end-user processes for SAP S/4HANA Sales (Sales and Distribution)...
14. LinkedIn Sales Navigator: LinkedIn's tool for B2B Sales
Linked In Sales Navigator best remote practices for the Linked In premium service for business development and B2B sales...
15. Cold Calling for B2B Sales: How to Prospect over the Phone
B2B Sales Skill: How to Cold Call over the Phone with Purpose, Navigate through Gatekeepers and Set Client Meetings...
16. Sales Skills Mastery 1: Sales Training For Beginners
Selling Techniques and Sales Strategy that Every Salesperson Ought to Know - Sales Training For the Modern World...
17. Sales Methodologies: Best Practices for Enterprise Selling
Apply sales methodology and sales process best practices to the modern enterprise selling organization...
18. B2B Sales Objections Simplified
B2B Sales Skill: Learn How to Handle the Most Common Sales Objections, Over the Phone and in Person!...
19. The Complete Sales Skills Master Class - Sales Marketing B2B
Master Sales Skills, Marketing Strategy, B2B Sales, Business Development, Lead Generation Using Top Social Skills...
20. Sales Analysis for Management Consultants
A practical guide on how to improve sales and marketing of your customers during consulting projects like Mc Kinsey, BCG,...
Average sales associate salary by education level
| Sales Associate education level | Sales Associate salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $37,077 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $31,772 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $36,695 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $32,784 |
Updated April 5, 2024
Updated April 5, 2024