What Does it Take to Be a Sales Engineer?
Position Description Sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering.
Life As a Sales Engineer: What Do They Do?
- Confer with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine system requirements.
- Identify resale opportunities and support them to achieve sales plans.
- Attend company training seminars to become familiar with product lines.
- Secure and renew orders and arrange delivery.
- Develop, present, or respond to proposals for specific customer requirements, including request for proposal responses and industry-specific solutions.
- Recommend improved materials or machinery to customers, documenting how such changes will lower costs or increase production.
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Things a Sales Engineer Should Know How to Do
These are the skills Sales Engineers say are the most useful in their careers:
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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.
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 Jobs
- Customer Engagement Manager
- Sales Engineer, Account Manager
- Mining and Oil Well Equipment and Services Sales Engineer
- Product Support Engineer
- Technical Sales Engineer
What Kind of Sales Engineer Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 74,900 jobs in the United States for Sales Engineer. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 8,300 job openings in this field each year.

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.
Salary for a Sales Engineer
The typical yearly salary for Sales Engineers is somewhere between $58,430 and $165,350.

Sales Engineers who work in Delaware, Colorado, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Sales Engineers make in each U.S. state?
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?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Sales Engineers may use on a daily basis:
- 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
What education or degrees do I need to become a Sales Engineer?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Sales Engineer?

Where Sales Engineers Are Employed

Sales Engineers work in the following industries:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Sales Engineer may also be interested in:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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