Sales Skills and Operations: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for individuals seeking to excel in dynamic sales environments, this program equips learners with the strategic and interpersonal competencies required to drive product and service adoption. It emphasizes both the operational backbone of sales functions and the human-centered skills essential for building lasting client relationships and achieving performance goals.
- Consumer Psychology: Explores the cognitive and emotional drivers behind purchasing decisions, enabling effective targeting and messaging tailored to buyer behavior.
- Image Projection: Focuses on personal branding and professional presentation, teaching how appearance, tone, and demeanor influence trust and credibility in client interactions.
- Public Speaking and Interpersonal Communications: Develops confidence and clarity in verbal delivery, active listening, and persuasive dialogue across diverse client and team settings.
- Sales Organization and Operations: Covers the structural elements of sales workflows, including pipeline management, territory planning, and performance tracking systems.
- Customer Relations: Emphasizes relationship-building strategies, retention techniques, and service-oriented approaches to foster long-term client loyalty and satisfaction.
- Professional Standards and Ethics: Instills integrity in sales practices, covering compliance, transparency, and ethical decision-making in high-pressure environments.
- Applicable Technical Skills: Provides hands-on training with digital tools, CRM platforms, data analytics, and other technologies that support modern sales execution and reporting.
Sales Skills and Operations Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Sales Skills and Operations Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Sales Skills and Operations degrees, including Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products, First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers and Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 3,336,180 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products 41-4011 | $100,070 | $48,840 - $194,890 | 293,930 | $48.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers 41-1012 | $84,130 | $48,880 - $162,120 | 219,010 | $40.45 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel 41-3091 | $66,260 | $36,930 - $142,040 | 1,189,330 | $31.86 |
| Advertising Sales Agents 41-3011 | $61,460 | $33,480 - $133,540 | 97,470 | $29.55 |
| Travel Agents 41-3041 | $48,450 | $33,280 - $74,160 | 59,150 | $23.29 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 41-1011 | $47,320 | $31,120 - $76,560 | 1,113,160 | $22.75 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other 41-9099 | $46,370 | $28,060 - $95,850 | 99,070 | $22.29 |
| Parts Salespersons 41-2022 | $37,440 | $27,770 - $61,750 | 265,060 | $18.00 |
Sales Skills and Operations Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,421 in Arkansas to $78,881 in New York—a 63% difference. The highest-paying states include New York, Washington, and Colorado. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 3,336,180 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Sales Skills and Operations by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 82 institutions offering Sales Skills and Operations programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Sales Skills and Operations is found at Kansas State University (K‑State) (126 graduates), Weber State University (WSU) (125 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (93 graduates), University of Kentucky (UK) (88 graduates), and East Carolina University (ECU) (88 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,566 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
126 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
125 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
93 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Other Award
|
88 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Other Award
|
88 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Lake Land College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
83 | Mattoon, Illinois | Public | lakelandcollege.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Other Award
|
78 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
67 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Other Award
|
56 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| Santa Monica College (SMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
38 | Santa Monica, California | Public | smc.edu |
| Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) |
Other Award
|
34 | Santa Rosa, California | Public | santarosa.edu |
| Kent State University |
Other Award
|
33 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| High Point University (HPU) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | High Point, North Carolina | Private | highpoint.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
29 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| Allan Hancock College |
Residency
|
28 | Santa Maria, California | Public | hancockcollege.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Other Award
|
25 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Miami University |
Other Award
|
24 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Robert Morris University (RMU) |
Other Award
|
24 | Moon Township, Pennsylvania | Private | rmu.edu |
| Northeast State Community College |
Other Award
|
23 | Blountville, Tennessee | Public | northeaststate.edu |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | commonwealthu.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Other Award
|
20 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| Stetson University |
Bachelor's
|
19 | DeLand, Florida | Private | stetson.edu |
| Washtenaw Community College (WCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | wccnet.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Other Award
|
16 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| University of Akron |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
15 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Clark College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
15 | Vancouver, Washington | Public | clark.edu |
| Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Other Award
|
15 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
| Joliet Junior College (JJC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Joliet, Illinois | Public | jjc.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Western Technical College (WTC) |
Other Award
|
12 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Public | westerntc.edu |
| Bentley University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | bentley.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Other Award
|
10 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| McHenry County College (MCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Crystal Lake, Illinois | Public | mchenry.edu |
| William Rainey Harper College |
Other Award
|
10 | Palatine, Illinois | Public | harpercollege.edu |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
10 | Wayne, New Jersey | Public | wpunj.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Hamilton, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Ensign College |
Other Award
|
10 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | ensign.edu |
| South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) |
Other Award
|
9 | Americus, Georgia | Public | southgatech.edu |
| Owens Community College (OCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Perrysburg, Ohio | Public | owens.edu |
| Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) |
Other Award
|
8 | Rosemount, Minnesota | Public | dctc.edu |
| Sauk Valley Community College (SVCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Dixon, Illinois | Public | svcc.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Middletown, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Platteville, Wisconsin | Public | uwplatt.edu |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
| Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta Tech) |
Other Award
|
5 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | atlantatech.edu |
| Adrian College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Adrian, Michigan | Private | adrian.edu |
| Valley City State University (VCSU) |
Other Award
|
5 | Valley City, North Dakota | Public | vcsu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Other Award
|
5 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| Bradley University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Peoria, Illinois | Private | bradley.edu |
| Butler County Community College (BC3) |
Associate's
|
4 | Butler, Pennsylvania | Public | bc3.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) |
Other Award
|
4 | Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Public | uwsp.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Oglesby, Illinois | Public | ivcc.edu |
| College of Lake County (CLC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Grayslake, Illinois | Public | clcillinois.edu |
| Parkland College |
Associate's
|
3 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | parkland.edu |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) |
Other Award
|
3 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Public | pfw.edu |
| Manchester University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | North Manchester, Indiana | Private | manchester.edu |
| Columbus State Community College (CSCC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | cscc.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Olney Central College (OCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Olney, Illinois | Public | iecc.edu |
| Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
2 | Ankeny, Iowa | Public | dmacc.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| St Catherine University (St. Kate’s) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stkate.edu |
| Culver-Stockton College (C‑SC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Canton, Missouri | Private | culver.edu |
| Bellevue University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bellevue, Nebraska | Private | bellevue.edu |
| Plymouth State University (PSU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Plymouth, New Hampshire | Public | plymouth.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Associate's
|
2 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| Pierce College District |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | pierce.ctc.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Other Award
|
1 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Reinhardt University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Waleska, Georgia | Private | reinhardt.edu |
| Oakton College |
Other Award
|
1 | Des Plaines, Illinois | Public | oakton.edu |
| Rock Valley College (RVC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Rockford, Illinois | Public | rockvalleycollege.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| Lorain County Community College (LCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Elyria, Ohio | Public | lorainccc.edu |
| Walsh University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | North Canton, Ohio | Private | walsh.edu |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | msoe.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Sales Skills and Operations programs
How much can I earn with a Sales Skills and Operations degree?
Salaries for Sales Skills and Operations graduates vary by role and location. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products earn a median of $100,070 annually, while First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers earn around $84,130. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in New York average $78,881 compared to $48,421 in Arkansas. Approximately 3,336,180 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Sales Skills and Operations programs?
Currently 82 accredited institutions offer Sales Skills and Operations degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Kansas State University (K‑State) (126 graduates), Weber State University (WSU) (125 graduates), and Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (93 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Sales Skills and Operations growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 2,322 in 2010 to 1,566 in 2023-24. This represents a 33% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Sales Skills and Operations degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products, First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers, and Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel. Related occupations employ approximately 3,336,180 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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