General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations graduates earn a median $75,399 four years after finishing — $27,039/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 2.5 years. Federal data pools 78 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 2,502 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations ranks #59 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 71% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baylor University | TX | $125,167 |
| 2 | Western Governors University | UT | $107,585 |
| 3 | Bellevue University | NE | $98,487 |
| 4 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | $93,141 |
| 5 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | OH | $86,245 |
| 6 | Weber State University | UT | $82,549 |
| 7 | Purdue University-Main Campus | IN | $82,441 |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $82,081 |
| 9 | Kennesaw State University | GA | $79,147 |
| 10 | Ball State University | IN | $78,401 |
| 11 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | AL | $76,648 |
| 12 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | NY | $76,565 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations pay grow after graduation?
Median pay sits at $75,399 four years out against $93,151 at one year, so early-career growth in this field is flat on national medians. Progression here depends more on the specific role and employer than on time since graduation.
How many students graduate in General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations each year?
About 2,502 bachelor's graduates a year across 78 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.