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Graduate Certificates in Retail and Sales

Career summary: Retail Sales Workers

Average Salary

$21,410

National Average, Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Career Outlook

Good

10% job growth by 2022, which is average

Earn a degree in retail and sales from an accredited college

One of the best ways to prepare for a career in retail and sales is through a college education. A Graduate Certificate will help you develop entry level skills, general retail and sales know how and the basic retail and sales experience you need to start your career off right. You may also consider a Master's in Retail and Sales to help you take your education and career to the next level. Please select retail and sales school below.

Overview

Retail and sales original

Why would I want a degree in retail and sales?

Retail sales workers include both those who sell retail merchandise, such as clothing, furniture, and automobiles, (called retail salespersons) and those who sell spare and replacement parts and equipment, especially car parts (called parts salespersons). Both types of workers help customers find the products they want and process customers’ payments.

Job Description

What does a salesperson do?

Retail sales workers typically do the following:

  • Greet customers and determine what each customer wants or needs
  • Recommend merchandise based on customers’ wants and needs
  • Explain the use and benefit of merchandise to customers
  • Answer customers’ questions
  • Show how merchandise works, if applicable
  • Add up customers’ total purchases and accept payment
  • Know about current sales and promotions, policies about payments and exchanges, and security practices

Salary

How much do retail and sales workers make?

The median hourly wage for retail salespersons was $10.15 in May 2012. The median wage is the wage at which half of the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.09, and the top 10 percent earned more than $18.73.

The median hourly wage for parts salespersons was $14.21 in May 2012. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.96, and the top 10 percent earned more than $23.93.

Career Outlook

How popular are retail and sales jobs?

Employment of retail sales workers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Employment of retail salespersons is projected to grow 10 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment of retail salespersons has traditionally grown with the overall economy, and this trend is expected to continue. Population growth will increase retail sales and demand for these workers.

Career Path

How do I become a retail or sales worker?

Although retail or parts sales positions usually have no formal education requirements, some employers prefer applicants who have a high school diploma or equivalent, especially those who sell technical products or “big-ticket” items, such as electronics or cars.

Salary and career outlook data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Learning Format

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