Sales engineer essential career information:
- 2012 median pay: $91,830
- 2012, number of jobs: 65,410
- Employment growth forecast, 2010-2020: 14 percent
- Entry-level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Sales engineers; what they do:
If selling complex scientific and technological products sounds a whole lot more fun than having to build them, you may be interested in a sales engineer career. Sales engineers need a complete understanding of all products they sell; for people who love learning the ins and outs of the latest technological products, this could be your dream job.
Sales engineers must prepare and deliver technical presentations explaining products and services to customers. A sales engineer career includes working with customers, answering their questions and gathering feedback and ideas regarding how to make products more efficient or more helpful in the future.
Sales engineers sometimes work with sales teams to share customer input and provide sales support so sales engineers can focus less on the marketing aspect of things and more on the technical side.
A sales engineer career involves making product recommendations to customers, based on advances or improvements to products as well as potential savings through improved efficiency for clients. Sales engineers offer assistance if a customer has any issues installing a product or having it work properly.
Sales engineers job titles:
- IT Sales Engineer
- Applications Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Product Sales Engineer
- Sales Executive
- Technical Sales Manager
Sales Engineers Education, Certification and License Requirements
People interested in a sales engineer career typically need a Bachelor of Engineering degree, or a bachelor degree in a similar field.
Engineering majors generally have an emphasis on a specific type of engineering, such as electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, biomedical, or computer hardware engineering. Many employers also prefer sales engineers with sales experience. Employers may provide new sales engineers training.
Sales engineers often sell products that are always evolving and improving, thus they take continuing education courses in order to be up on the latest advances and technologies.
Sales engineer programs cover subjects such as:
- Calculus
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Statistics
- Computer programming
- Physical sciences
- Computer skills
Sales engineers don’t need specific licenses or certifications.
Career Advancement Opportunities
Career advancement for sales engineers may include a higher commission, a larger sales territory, or advancing to a supervisor or marketing manager position.
Sales Engineers Job Outlook
Forecast: 14 percent employment growth from 2010 to 2020 for sales engineers, on par with the average for all occupations.
The increasing variety of technologically advanced products in the marketplace increases the demand for sale engineers. Independent sales agencies are expected to be the largest future employer of sales engineers.
Sales Engineers Salary
- 2012 median annual wage: $91,830
- 2012, workers at the 75th percentile annual wage: $119,480
- 2012, workers at the 25th percentile annual wage: $70,530
Sales Engineers Major Employers
- Wholesale trade
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
- Computer and electronic product manufacturers
- Telecommunications
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