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What Does it Take to Be a Sales Engineer?
Job 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
- Plan and modify product configurations to meet customer needs.
- Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements, to promote the sale of company products, and to provide sales support.
- Create sales or service contracts for products or services.
- Confer with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine system requirements.
- Arrange for demonstrations or trial installations of equipment.
- Identify resale opportunities and support them to achieve sales plans.
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What Every Sales Engineer Should Know
Sales Engineers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Missile Navigation Systems Sales Engineer
- Sales Engineer, Engineered Products
- Aeronautical Products Sales Engineer
- Outside Sales Representative
- Sales Engineer, Account Manager
Sales Engineer Job Outlook
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. The BLS estimates 8,300 yearly job openings in this field.
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?
The average yearly salary of a Sales Engineer ranges between $58,430 and $165,350.
Sales Engineers who work in Delaware, Colorado, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Sales Engineers 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Sales Engineers
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
Becoming a Sales Engineer
Education needed to be a Sales Engineer:
What work experience do I need to become a Sales Engineer?
Sales Engineers Sector
Below are examples of industries where Sales Engineers work:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Sales Engineer might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.