All About Sales Engineers

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

What do Sales Engineers do On a Daily Basis?

• Develop, present, or respond to proposals for specific customer requirements, including request for proposal responses and industry-specific solutions.
• Maintain sales forecasting reports.
• Write technical documentation for products.
• Attend trade shows and seminars to promote products or to learn about industry developments.
• Provide technical and non-technical support and services to clients or other staff members regarding the use, operation, and maintenance of equipment.
• Develop sales plans to introduce products in new markets.

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.

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

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

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

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

Other Sales Engineer Job Titles

• Electrical Products Sales Engineer
• Aeronautical Products Sales Engineer
• Product Sales Engineer
• Customer Engagement Manager
• Systems Engineer

Job Opportunities for Sales Engineers

There were about 74,900 jobs for Sales Engineers in 2016 (in the United States).

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.9% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,200 new jobs for Sales Engineers by 2026. The BLS estimates 8,300 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Sales Engineers are Texas, California, and Colorado.

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.

What is the Average Salary of a Sales Engineer

Sales Engineers Make between $58,430 and $165,350 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $101,420.

How much do Sales Engineers make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

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

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 Exchange Server
• Apache Hadoop
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Visio
• Shell script
• Salesforce software
• Microsoft Project
• UNIX
• C
• Apache Cassandra

How do I Become a Sales Engineer?

Individuals working as Sales Engineers have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a Sales Engineer?

Where Sales Engineers Work

Similar Careers

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

• Urban and Regional Planners

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons