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Software and SaaS
Salesforce, Microsoft, HubSpot
Sales Engineers
Sales engineers sell complex products by translating technical features into business value for customers. The job is a constant balancing act: you need enough engineering know-how to answer tough questions and shape the right solution, but you also have to push the deal forward without overpromising.
Also known as Solutions EngineerPre-Sales EngineerTechnical Sales EngineerField Sales EngineerSolutions Consultant
Median Salary
$121,520
Mean $130,410
U.S. Workforce
~57K
5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+5.5%
56.8K to 59.9K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Sales Engineers sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~57K workers, with a median annual pay of $121,520 and roughly 5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 56.8 K in 2024 to 59.9K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Sales Support Specialist and can progress toward Sales Engineering Manager. High-value skills usually include Salesforce, HubSpot & CRM Platforms, Microsoft Excel & Sales Forecasting, and CPQ, Quoting & Contract Management Software, paired with soft skills such as Persuasion, Speaking, and Active Listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Learn new products and updates so you can explain how they work to customers.
- Work with account executives to figure out what a customer needs and how the product can solve it.
- Build quotes, contracts, and order paperwork for deals that are ready to move forward.
- Plan how to introduce products to new markets and pitch them to the right customers.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Learn new products and updates so you can explain how they work to customers.
02 Work with account executives to figure out what a customer needs and how the product can solve it.
03 Build quotes, contracts, and order paperwork for deals that are ready to move forward.
04 Plan how to introduce products to new markets and pitch them to the right customers.
05 Look for repeat business and expansion opportunities with existing accounts.
06 Track sales forecasts and suggest product changes that could cut costs or improve output for customers.
Industries That Hire
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Industrial Automation and Machinery
Siemens, Rockwell Automation, Caterpillar
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Medical Devices and Life Sciences
Medtronic, Stryker, Abbott
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Networking and Telecommunications
Cisco, Juniper Networks, Ericsson
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Cybersecurity and Cloud Infrastructure
Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike, Amazon Web Services
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong for a role that does not require graduate school, with a median wage of $121,520 and a mean of $130,410.
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BLS says no prior work experience is required, so a bachelor's degree and product training can be enough to get started.
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You get to use both technical knowledge and people skills, which makes the work more varied than a pure sales or support job.
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The work is tied to real business problems, such as cutting costs, improving production, or matching the right product to a customer's setup.
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There are still about 5,000 annual openings, so people move through the field often enough to create regular hiring opportunities.
Challenges
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A lot of the pressure comes from whether deals close, so your success can depend on the sales team's results, not just your own work.
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The job can be demanding for people who dislike rejection, because long sales cycles and failed demos are part of the normal routine.
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Growth is only 5.5% from 2024 to 2034, which is steady but not fast for a specialized role.
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The role can be tied to one product line or one industry, so if that market slows down or the product gets replaced, your niche can shrink quickly.
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Routine quoting, forecasting, and demo prep are increasingly handled through CRM and CPQ software, which can reduce the value of some repetitive parts of the job over time.
Career Progression
Sales Support Specialist
0-2 years
$65K-$104K
You help prepare quotes, gather customer details, and support the sales team while you learn the product line.
Sales Engineer
2-5 years
$105K-$144K
You run demos, answer technical questions, and help turn customer needs into a workable proposal.
Senior Sales Engineer THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$145K-$184K
You handle the hardest deals, work directly with major accounts, and coach newer sales engineers.
Sales Engineering Manager
8+ years
$185K-$240K
You lead a team, set demo strategy, and coordinate with sales leadership on bigger accounts and territory plans.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree
The most common entry point, held by 57.33% of workers in this role.
Associate's degree
A smaller but real path, held by 11.51% of workers in this role.
Some college courses
A less common route, held by 6.0% of workers in this role.
Technical certificate plus sales training
Some employers will hire candidates with a technical certificate plus strong product knowledge or sales experience, especially if they can learn the product quickly.
Key Skills
Technical
Salesforce, HubSpot & CRM Platforms 78%
Microsoft Excel & Sales Forecasting 74%
CPQ, Quoting & Contract Management Software 72%
Product Demonstrations & Solution Configuration Tools 70%
Soft Skills
PersuasionSpeakingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingReading Comprehension Job Outlook and Trends
+5.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 56.8K to 59.9 K over the next decade, representing 5.5% growth. Around 5 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.