Home › Midlands Technical College › General Sales

General Sales at Midlands Technical College

West Columbia, SC · Public · Associate Degree · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations

serving 7,731 students in West Columbia, SC.

Program Analysis

Midlands Technical College's General Sales graduates start at $28,150/yr, trailing the $34,853 national average by 19%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 47.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI General Sales programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 44% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for General Sales graduates.

Ranked #9 of 16 General Sales programs, Midlands Technical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $45,660 show a 62% jump from the $28,150 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

General Sales offers 8 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
56
Low End
63
Score
66
High End
Earnings $28,150/yr (-19% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (56% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (499,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$494K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
51.6x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
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.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$9,576
Out-of-state: $27,624
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,660
62% 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) Greenville Technical College ($27,524)

Other Majors at Midlands Technical College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($70,571) Dental Support Services and Allied Professions ($56,771) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($50,643) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($47,834) Precision Metal Working ($47,556) Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants ($46,823) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) ($46,803) Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services ($43,709)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare General Sales degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for General Sales at Midlands Technical College?
At 63/100, the score looks reasonable — but General Sales is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
How vulnerable is General Sales to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' General Sales careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
Is Midlands Technical College a good choice for General Sales despite lower starting pay?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Can I learn General Sales through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 8 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to General Sales career paths, including Manager, Retail Store. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
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 →