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Sales Engineers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $124,900 Median per year · $60.05/hr Most earn $73,870–$195,270

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Sell products requiring extensive technical expertise and support for installation and use, such as material handling equipment, numerical-control machinery, or computer systems.
  • Diagnose problems with installed equipment.
  • Secure and renew orders and arrange delivery.
  • Keep informed on industry news and trends, products, services, competitors, relevant information about legacy, existing, and emerging technologies, and the latest product-line developments.
  • Write technical documentation for products.
  • Provide information needed for the development of custom-made machinery.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 3,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Computer systems design and related services18.4%
  • Merchant wholesalers, durable goods10.3%
  • Software publishers6.2%
  • Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers5.4%
  • Wholesale trade agents and brokers4.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Sales Engineer is not an entry-level job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree, then spend several years in a related job building technical and sales experience, so the full path usually takes about 8 to 10 years from starting college.

  1. Bachelor's degree in engineering

    4 years

    You learn the technical foundation, such as how products work and how to solve problems, which customers will expect you to understand.

  2. Sales Representative, Technical and Scientific Products

    2-4 years

    You sell technical products to businesses, learn how customers buy, and practice explaining complex products in plain language. This experience prepares you for a role that combines selling with technical know-how.

  3. Sales Engineer

    Career goal

    You use your engineering knowledge to explain, demonstrate, and customize products for business customers, and you help close sales with your technical expertise.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Sales Engineer

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on larger, more complex accounts and may lead technical teams or mentor newer sales engineers.

  2. Sales Manager, Technical Products

    3-5 years of experience first

    You shift from working directly with customers to leading a sales team, setting targets, and coaching representatives.

  3. Architectural and Engineering Managers

    8-10 years of experience first

    You lead engineering or technical teams and projects, which usually requires more experience and often a master's degree.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and science classesStrong math, physics, and chemistry classes prepare you for an engineering degree and show you whether you enjoy technical problem-solving.
  • Join a robotics, science, or engineering clubBuilding projects and presenting them to others gives you hands-on technical experience and practice explaining your ideas.
  • Enter a science fair or design competitionCompetitions teach you to research, test, and present a solution, which is a core skill for sales engineers.
  • Get a starter job in retail or customer serviceWorking with customers builds comfort with conversations, problem-solving, and meeting people's needs.
  • Practice public speakingJoining a debate team or speech club helps you explain complex topics clearly, which is key in sales engineering.

In college

  • Major in engineeringA bachelor's degree in an engineering field is the typical education for sales engineers and gives you the technical base customers rely on.
  • Take business, communication, or writing coursesClasses in sales, marketing, or professional writing teach you how to understand customers and present ideas persuasively.
  • Complete an internship in engineering or technical salesInternships show you how products are built and sold, and they can lead to job offers and useful references.
  • Join a student engineering or professional societyGroups like these offer networking, presentation practice, and connections to people already working in the field.
  • Work a campus job that involves customers or presentingJobs such as tutoring, a campus tech help desk, or a student ambassador role build the people skills you will need in sales.

Tips for getting started

  • Pick an engineering major and take courses in communication, writing, or public speaking, since sales engineers explain technical ideas to non-technical buyers every day.
  • Look for a summer or part-time job in sales, customer service, or retail to practice talking with people and handling questions.
  • Start building a short list of contacts and mentors, such as professors, internship supervisors, and people working in sales engineering, and ask them how they got started.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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