What Does a Sales Engineer Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a sales engineer do?

Sales engineers sell complex scientific and technological products and services, using technical expertise to understand customer needs, design solutions and support the sales process. The median pay is $124,900 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 4 years plus experience, and employment is projected to grow +2.8% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$124,900
$60.05/hour · May 2025
Job growth
+2.8%
2025–35, about as fast as average
Openings per year
3,800
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
BLS classification
Time to train
4 years plus experience
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
51,600
Employment, 2025

What sales engineers do

Sales engineers are the technical experts on sales teams. They learn customers’ technical requirements, design solutions, give demos, answer technical questions, write proposals and respond to RFPs, and help with implementation planning. They sell software, industrial equipment, electrical systems, chemicals and more.

Most sales engineers have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a technical field. They combine problem-solving with communication. Pay often includes salary and commission or bonuses.

Typical duties

Learn customer technical requirements
Design technical solutions
Deliver product demonstrations
Answer technical questions
Write proposals and RFP responses
Support pilots and proofs of concept
Work with product and engineering teams

Work environment and schedule

Sales engineers work in offices, remotely and at customer sites, with travel for meetings and demonstrations.

Schedule: Most work full-time with some travel and busy periods near deal deadlines.

A day in the life

8:30 AMPrepare a custom demo for a manufacturing client.
10:00 AMLead a technical discovery call with IT and engineering teams.
11:30 AMAnswer security questions in an RFP.
1:00 PMDeliver the demo with the account executive.

See a full day in the life of a sales engineer →

Sales Engineer salary

Half of sales engineers earned more than $124,900 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $73,870 for the lowest 10% to $195,270 for the top 10%.

$73,87010th$124,900Median$195,27090th

Full sales engineer pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a sales engineer

Earn a technical degree
Gain technical experience
Learn sales skills
Become a sales engineer
Advance

A bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science or a technical field is typical. Product and sales training happen on the job.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a sales engineer →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Technical product expertise
Solution design
Demonstrations
RFP writing
Engineering fundamentals

People skills

Communication
Listening
Problem solving
Collaboration

All sales engineer skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

High pay
Mix of technology and people
Problem-solving every day
Less quota pressure than pure sales

Cons

Travel
Pressure to win deals
Constant product learning
Juggling many deals

Certifications and licenses

Vendor technical certifications: Such as AWS, Cisco or Microsoft credentials.
Professional Engineer (PE): Helpful for some industrial roles.
Certified Sales Professional (CSP): Sales credential.
Presentation skills training: Courses in technical communication.

Career path

Associate Sales Engineer: Support demos.
Sales Engineer: Lead technical sales.
Senior SE or Solutions Architect: Design complex solutions.
SE Manager or Director: Lead pre-sales teams.

Learn the job before day one

Our Sales Engineer training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as deliver a tailored demo and run a proof of concept, safety and how to land your first job.

View Sales Engineer training Is this career right for me?

Technical Sales Representative

Sell technical, medical and scientific products to professionals.

$104,920
4 years plus product training

Account Executive

Sell services and software to businesses and grow client accounts.

$69,990
1–6 months

Electrical Engineer

Design power systems, electronics and controls that run modern life.

$120,630
4 years

Computer Systems Analyst

Bridge business needs and technology by designing better computer systems.

$105,850
4 years

Compare: Sales Engineer vs. Technical Sales Rep · Sales Engineer vs. Account Executive · Sales Engineer vs. Electrical Engineer · Sales Engineer vs. Computer Systems Analyst

Sales Engineer FAQ

Do sales engineers need an engineering degree?

Usually a technical degree.

Do sales engineers have quotas?

Often team-based goals or bonuses.

Is travel required?

Many roles include travel.

How much does a sales engineer make?

The median annual wage for sales engineers was $124,900 ($60.05 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $73,870 and the highest 10% earned more than $195,270.

How long does it take to become a sales engineer?

Most people need about 4 years plus experience of training. A bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science or a technical field is typical. Product and sales training happen on the job.

Do you need a degree to be a sales engineer?

Usually. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as typical, often in engineering. Some sales engineers move in from technical support or field roles with deep product expertise.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 41-9031 (Sales engineers).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Sales engineers (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Sales Engineer