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General Sales at CET-San Jose

San Jose, CA · Private nonprofit · Certificate · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations

a smaller institution with 175 students in San Jose, CA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $15,849 place CET-San Jose below the $34,853 national median for General Sales — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Career paths for General Sales carry above-average AI exposure (44% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

A #11 ranking among 16 General Sales programs places CET-San Jose in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $15,849-to-$25,447 earnings arc over five years reflects a 61% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

The 8 apprenticeship pathways connected to General Sales reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

52 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
47
Low End
52
Score
54
High End
Earnings $15,849/yr (-55% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (56% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (499,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$278K
12.0% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
11 of 11
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$25,447
61% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for General Sales graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products $100,070 +1.9% 54%
Business teachers, postsecondary $97,270 +5.7% 51%
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers $84,130 0.0% 46%
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
$100,070
+1.9% growth 54% AI-proof
Business teachers, postsecondary
$97,270
+5.7% growth 51% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
$84,130
0.0% growth 46% AI-proof

View all 11 career paths with full salary data →

About General Sales Careers

Your career in sales can take you in two main directions. You might become a first-line supervisor in a retail store, where your day involves managing schedules for your sales team, tracking inventory in the back room, and being the go-to person on the floor for tough customer issues. Alternatively, you could hit the road as a B2B sales representative, meeting with business clients to understand their needs, demonstrating how your products or services can help, and negotiating contracts.

Read the full General Sales career guide →

Compare & Explore

General Sales Overview

View all 16 schools offering General Sales →

General Sales at Other Schools

University of Missouri-Columbia ($64,382) Weber State University ($60,215) Umpqua Community College ($58,591) Kent State University at Kent ($57,169) North Dakota State University-Main Campus ($55,734) Minnesota State Community and Technical College ($39,563) Harrisburg Area Community College ($38,826) Midlands Technical College ($28,150)

Other Majors at CET-San Jose

Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology ($42,828) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) ($35,970) Housing and Human Environments ($35,261) Ground Transportation ($34,665) Precision Metal Working ($32,817) Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services ($32,056) Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection ($28,485) Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies ($26,336)

Explore the Degree Alternative

Compare General Sales degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does CET-San Jose's General Sales program score?
This program scores 52/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of General Sales programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI affect General Sales careers?
With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $165,815 in decade earnings vs $278,131 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Why are General Sales earnings lower at CET-San Jose?
Starting salary is one data point. If CET-San Jose's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for General Sales graduates?
There are 8 registered apprenticeships connected to General Sales occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for General Sales graduates?
The career paths mapped to General Sales have roughly 499,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →