What You Need to Know About Sales Engineer
Position Description Sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering.
A Day in the Life of a Sales Engineer
- Identify resale opportunities and support them to achieve sales plans.
- Create sales or service contracts for products or services.
- Provide information needed for the development of custom-made machinery.
- Maintain sales forecasting reports.
- Prepare and deliver technical presentations that explain products or services to customers and prospective customers.
- Develop, present, or respond to proposals for specific customer requirements, including request for proposal responses and industry-specific solutions.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as 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
- Technical Account Manager
- Aeronautical Products Sales Engineer
- Account Executive
- Ceramic Products Sales Engineer
- Sales Engineer, Engineered Products
Sales Engineer Employment Estimates
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 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.
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 |
What Tools & Technology 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
Are there Sales Engineers education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Sales Engineer?
Where Sales Engineers Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of Sales Engineers employed by various industries.
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Sales Engineer might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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