Sales Engineers

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

Also called: Business Development Engineer, Inside Sales Engineer, Product Sales Engineer, Sales Applications Engineer, Sales Engineer, Technical Marketing Engineer, Technical Sales Engineer, Aeronautical Products Sales Engineer, Aerospace Products Sales Engineer, Agricultural Equipment Sales Engineer, Ceramic Products Sales Engineer, Channel Sales Engineer (CSE), Chemical Equipment Sales Engineer, Customer Engineer, Electrical Products Sales Engineer, Electronics Products and Systems Sales Engineer, Enterprise Sales Engineer, Field Marketing Representative, Field Sales Engineer, Field Service Representative, HVAC Commercial Salesperson (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Commercial Salesperson), Inside Sales Representative, Marine Equipment Sales Engineer, Mechanical Equipment Sales Engineer, Mining and Oil Well Equipment and Services Sales Engineer, Missile Navigation Systems Sales Engineer, Nuclear Equipment Sales Engineer, Outside Sales Engineer, Outside Sales Representative, Pre-Sales Engineer, Pre-Sales Solutions Engineer, Product Support Engineer, Product Support Specialist, Regional Sales Engineer, Sales Engineering Manager, Sales Specialist

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Develop, present, or respond to proposals for specific customer requirements, including request for proposal responses and industry-specific solutions.
Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements, to promote the sale of company products, and to provide sales support.
Create sales or service contracts for products or services.
Visit prospective buyers at commercial, industrial, or other establishments to show samples or catalogs, and to inform them about product pricing, availability, and advantages.
Keep informed on industry news and trends, products, services, competitors, relevant information about legacy, existing, and emerging technologies, and the latest product-line developments.
Identify resale opportunities and support them to achieve sales plans.
Confer with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine system requirements.
Plan and modify product configurations to meet customer needs.
Prepare and deliver technical presentations that explain products or services to customers and prospective customers.
Recommend improved materials or machinery to customers, documenting how such changes will lower costs or increase production.

Skills, machines and equipment

Speaking
Persuasion
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Social Perceptiveness
Judgment and Decision Making
Negotiation
Complex Problem Solving
Writing
Active Learning
Service Orientation

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree (57.33% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

O*NET Job Zone 4: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

92,890–161,230 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 41-9031.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree (57.33% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET Job Zone 4: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Sales Engineers