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A bachelor’s in professional sales is the standard undergraduate credential in this field. Common titles include BS in Professional Sales, BS in Selling and Sales Management, BBA with a sales major. Typical length is about 120 semester hours. In IPEDS 2024, 26 institutions reported bachelor’s-or-higher completions in the CIP codes used for this guide, and 26 of those institutions reported offering distance-education programs (IPEDS 2024). Of those, 26 reported bachelor’s completions.
Most sales jobs do not require this degree. The bachelor’s is useful when the product is technical or the buyer is a committee, and when you want a path into sales management. Retail supervision (41-1011) is a different occupation with different pay; it is not the target of this CIP.
Yes. In IPEDS 2024, 26 institutions reported bachelor’s-or-higher completions in the CIP codes used for this guide, and 26 of those institutions reported offering distance-education programs (IPEDS 2024).
Typical coursework includes consultative selling, negotiation, account management, sales technology, business communication, and a live-prospecting practicum.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products: The national median annual wage was $104,920, with the 10th percentile at $52,600 and the 90th at $200,440 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 303,200 in 2024, projected to grow 1.9 percent through 2034, with 27,200 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Individual outcomes vary.
Certificates cover a tool. The bachelor’s is what most employers treat as the degree. If the job posting lists a bachelor’s as required, a certificate will not substitute.
There is no programmatic accreditor for professional sales. Institutional accreditation is the academic check. Employer onboarding and product training do more hiring work than the CIP.
Data verified: September 7, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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