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Sales Engineer

What is a Sales Engineer?

Sales Engineer Job Description Sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering.

Daily Life Of a Sales Engineer

  • Document account activities, generate reports, and keep records of business transactions with customers and suppliers.
  • Arrange for demonstrations or trial installations of equipment.
  • Diagnose problems with installed equipment.
  • Keep informed on industry news and trends, products, services, competitors, relevant information about legacy, existing, and emerging technologies, and the latest product-line developments.
  • Sell products requiring extensive technical expertise and support for installation and use, such as material handling equipment, numerical-control machinery, or computer systems.
  • Provide information needed for the development of custom-made machinery.

Qualities of a Sales Engineer

When polled, Sales Engineers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Types of Sales Engineer

  • Senior Sales Engineer
  • Customer Success Manager
  • Aerospace Products Sales Engineer
  • Nuclear Equipment Sales Engineer
  • Account Executive

Job Opportunities for Sales Engineers

There were about 74,900 jobs for Sales Engineer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,200 new jobs for Sales Engineer by 2026. There will be an estimated 8,300 positions for Sales Engineer per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Sales Engineer are Nevada, Utah, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Vermont, or New Mexico. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Sales Engineer Make?

Sales Engineers make between $58,430 and $165,350 a year.

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Sales Engineers who work in Delaware, Colorado, or Washington, make the highest salaries.

How much do Sales Engineers make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $87,350
Arizona $110,190
Arkansas $99,820
California $117,170
Colorado $129,560
Connecticut $90,690
Delaware $142,360
District of Columbia $118,600
Florida $112,600
Georgia $100,510
Hawaii $73,050
Idaho $124,300
Illinois $92,100
Indiana $102,320
Iowa $108,600
Kansas $90,410
Kentucky $91,660
Louisiana $90,470
Maine $88,680
Maryland $127,340
Massachusetts $107,590
Michigan $98,550
Minnesota $96,280
Mississippi $90,370
Missouri $91,830
Montana $96,530
Nebraska $84,600
Nevada $126,460
New Hampshire $113,050
New Jersey $104,590
New Mexico $92,130
New York $111,620
North Carolina $95,650
North Dakota $92,590
Ohio $93,940
Oklahoma $101,720
Oregon $106,990
Pennsylvania $97,680
Rhode Island $85,670
South Carolina $110,310
South Dakota $112,570
Tennessee $97,160
Texas $111,910
Utah $124,860
Virginia $139,620
Washington $120,940
West Virginia $86,360
Wisconsin $99,630

What Tools do Sales Engineers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Sales Engineers:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • JavaScript
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Python
  • Data entry software
  • SAP
  • Microsoft Project
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Linux
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • UNIX
  • PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor
  • Oracle PeopleSoft

How to Become a Sales Engineer

Are there Sales Engineers education requirements?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Sales Engineer?

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Those interested in being a Sales Engineer may also be interested in:

References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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