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The differences between pre sales engineers and associate sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a pre sales engineer, becoming an associate sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a pre sales engineer has an average salary of $116,651, which is higher than the $51,007 average annual salary of an associate sales representative.
The top three skills for a pre sales engineer include sales process, pre sales and cloud. The most important skills for an associate sales representative are work ethic, patients, and product knowledge.
| Pre Sales Engineer | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $116,651 | $51,007 |
| Hourly rate | $56.08 | $24.52 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 68,855 | 333,049 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A pre-sales engineer's role is to assist clients by offering technology recommendations and advice, aiming to secure sales and client satisfaction. Aside from selling products and services, a pre-sales engineer is also responsible for coordinating with various sales personnel, identifying the needs of clients, discussing how the equipment and devices can help attain business goals, and answering any inquiries about the subject. Furthermore, it is essential to develop positive relationships with clients, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
The duties of an associate sales representative depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Their responsibilities typically revolve around reaching out to clients through calls or door-to-door visits, offering products and services, collecting payments, addressing issues and concerns, and performing corrective measures when necessary. An associate sales representative often has a quota and deadline to reach; therefore, it is essential to be sales driven and goal-oriented. Furthermore, one must adhere to the policies and regulations of the company.
Pre sales engineers and associate sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pre Sales Engineer | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $116,651 | $51,007 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $160,000 | Between $37,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Apple | Verint |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a pre sales engineer and an associate sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Pre Sales Engineer | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between pre sales engineers' and associate sales representatives' demographics:
| Pre Sales Engineer | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.5% Female, 16.5% | Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.7% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 8.4% White, 75.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |