How to Become a Sales Engineer

How to Become a Sales Engineer
Business man offering hand shake by Johnny Magnusson Source: Free Stock Photos

Sales Engineer: A Quick Look
Median Salary $91,830 per year or $44.15 per hour
Entry-level Education Bachelor’s degree
On-the-job training A moderate level of on the job training
Primary employers Merchant wholesalers
Number of positions (U.S.) 66,000
Job Growth (2012-2022) 9% (Incredibly faster than the national average)
New positions (2012-2022) 5,900

Sales Engineer Job Description:

How to Become a Sales Engineer
Business man offering hand shake by Johnny Magnusson
Source: Free Stock Photos

The sales engineer job description includes selling various scientific equipment and services to companies. Sales engineers must be very knowledgeable about the products and services they are selling. They must be able to assess and determine the equipment companies will need to purchase from them. These engineers must be knowledgeable about both science and sales. The sales component of any engineer’s job is extremely important. At least part of their salary is typically derived from commission-based sales. However, part of the sales engineer income is based on a predetermined salary. Some engineers work for large companies, and other engineers who work for smaller, independent sales firms. Many engineers work at least 40 hours a week. However, it is not uncommon for sales engineers to work well over 40 hours each week. You can discover more about the typical sales engineer job description in this tab.

Sales Engineer Salary:

Data from the BLS indicates that the median value of a sales engineer salary is currently $91,830 per year (or $44.15 per hour) as of the year 2012. The top 10% of engineers earn an annual salary of $150,970. The lowest bracket (bottom 10%) typically earn earn annual salaries less than $55,660. Engineers who worked in the field of computer systems typically earn the top salaries of any other industry at $106,440 per year. Sales engineers who worked in the telecommunications industry earned an average annual salary of $97,130. Engineers who worked in the wholesale merchant industry earned an annual salary of $85,020 per year. Sales engineers who worked in manufacturing were the lowest annual income earners by industry at $82,240 per year. You can learn more about the typical sales engineer salary here.

How to Become a Sales Engineer:

Are you wondering how to become a sales engineer? To become a sales engineer, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field (such as business or chemistry) from an accredited college or university. Following college graduation, most individuals who pursue jobs as these specific engineers receive on-the-job training. As sales engineers gain work experience, they may be eligible for promotions and pay raises. If you’re interested, you can learn more about how to become a sales engineer in this tab.

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Sales Engineer Job Outlook:

As per BLS data, the sales engineer job outlook is projected to grow by about 9% between the years 2012 and 2022. This is approximately as fast as the rate of growth for all other professions. For sales engineers who sell computer equipment, the bureau expects an anticipated rate of growth at 35%. The following guide will tell you all about the sales engineer job outlook. You can learn more here.

Sales Engineer Salary:

According to the latest data calculated at a national level by the BLS, shows that the median sales engineer salary is $44.15 per hour for a total annual salary of $91,830 per year as of 2012. The median annual value reflects the exact ‘middle’ of all the salaries within the field of sales engineering; half of all sales engineers earn slightly less than the median annual value, and the other half of sales engineers earn more than this amount. The lowest earning 10% of sales engineers earned annual salaries of less than $55,660, and the top 10% of sales engineers earned an annual salary of more than $150,970. The salary of a sales engineer may vary due to differences in the type of firm they work for and the products they are selling.
  • The top 10% of sale engineers earned an annual salary of $150,970.
  • The lowest earning 10% of advisers earned annual salaries of less than $55,660
Commission also influences how much or how little sales engineers make in a given year. Some sales engineers are only paid based on sales commission, and other sales engineers are paid a combination of a salary and sales commission. Some companies offer additional pay bonuses to their sales engineers which are typically based on performance. As a result, the annual salaries of sales engineers may vary from one year to the next. Traveling sales engineers typically receive compensation for the cost of their travel, lodging, meals, etc. Sales engineers may be assigned a certain territory in which they must make their sales. The territory in which they make their sales may also influence how successful their sales are and how much commission they make. Many sales engineers work full time, and they typically work over 40 hours each work week. In order to meet sales goals and clients needs, sales engineers may need to work long, irregular hours. They may also need to spend time traveling to complete their sales. Some sales engineers may be able to set their own work schedules, which allows for some degree of job flexibility.
  • The best paid sales engineers work in California
  • Some of the best paid engineers work in California, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Ohio
  • The average annual of a sales engineer employed in San Francisco, California is $145,640
  • The average annual salary of an engineer employed in the San Jose/ Santa Clara California area is $133,060
  • The average annual of an engineer employed in Dallas, Texas is $123,810
  • The average annual of an engineer employed in Boston, Massachusetts is $111,110
  • The average annual of an engineer employed in New York, New York is $108,720
  • The average annual of an engineer employed in Atlanta, Georgia is $106,700
  • The average annual salary of an engineer in Los Angeles, California is $105,410
  • The average annual of an engineer employed in Chicago, Illinois is $104,470

How to Become a Sales Engineer:

Do you want to learn how to become a sales engineer? That is great if you do, because we are about to tell you! You typically need to receive a bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university. It would be most ideal if you received a degree in engineering. However, a related degree could be in science, business, or chemistry. It is helpful if people who want to become this type of engineer take mathematics classes, computer technology classes, science classes, engineering classes, and business classes. Some individuals who become sales engineers may not have a degree in a related field, but instead they have relevant work experience and knowledge about the products they are selling. Students who study engineering must typically focus on one particular area within the field of engineering. When a sales engineer first begins his or her career, this person typically receives sales training from the company that hires them. They learn about how to make effective sales and the products and services they will be selling. As they gain experience and become more competent engineers, they begin to work independently. New engineers may be assigned a mentor to guide them, help them, and give them advice. Many engineers continue learning throughout their careers so they stay current and knowledgeable about the latest products and technologies. As technology evolves and changes quickly, so too must the knowledge of the sales engineer. It is possible for sales engineers to receive promotions as they become highly successful salesmen and saleswomen. Promotions can result in a position as a manager, larger sales regions, or an increased commission rate. As with any career, there are certain personality traits and characteristics that make sales engineers particularly effective and successful. It is important that these engineers possess strong communication and interpersonal skills. They must be able to connect and communicate with clients. In performing their duties, they will confidently discuss the products and services they sell. They must also be able to build solid relationships with their customers so that their costumers want to buy from them again in the future. It is important that these engineers have a lot of confidence as they must be strong, confident salespeople. Having solid persuasive skills is also important when making sales. One of these aforementioned engineers should also possess good problem solving skills. They must be able to help clients resolve their problems by recommending products that will address their needs. Finally, these engineers should be highly knowledgeable about the products they are selling as well as various current technologies.

Sales Engineer Job Description:

The sales engineer job description includes selling various scientific equipment and services to companies. A sales engineer must be extremely knowledgeable about the products and services they are selling. They must be able to assess and determine the equipment companies will need to purchase from them. Sales engineers must be knowledgeable about both science and sales. The sales component of an engineer's job is extremely important. These engineers may work collaboratively with research and development departments to help them determine what new products are needed on the market. Here are some common sales engineer job responsibilities:
  • Meet with clients to determine what products and services they need
  • Work collaboratively with other engineers and sales teams
  • Follow up with clients to secure future purchases
  • Help clients resolve issues with products and help them determine what products and services they need to purchase
Give presentations to clients and potential clients about the scientific products and services they sell

Sales Engineer Job Outlook:

According to the BLS data, the sales engineer job outlook is projected to grow by about 9% between the years 2012 and 2022. This rate is just slightly lower than the rate of growth for all other professions. This field should grow as the technology field and creation of technological products continues to grow. For engineers who sell computer equipment, the rate of growth is anticipated to be 35%. *All numeric data in this post has been provided by courtesy of the BLS (the government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics), unless explicitly otherwise mentioned. The data was calculated in May 2014.

 

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