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Senior sales engineer vs software engineer

The differences between senior sales engineers and software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a senior sales engineer, becoming a software engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior sales engineer has an average salary of $116,026, which is higher than the $100,260 average annual salary of a software engineer.

The top three skills for a senior sales engineer include pre sales, cloud and product demonstrations. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.

Senior sales engineer vs software engineer overview

Senior Sales EngineerSoftware Engineer
Yearly salary$116,026$100,260
Hourly rate$55.78$48.20
Growth rate6%21%
Number of jobs81,179339,938
Job satisfaction-3.5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4439
Years of experience64

What does a senior sales engineer do?

A senior sales engineer is responsible for assisting the marketing and sales team on the technical aspect of operations. Senior sales engineers help the team to structure efficient deliverables and high-quality outputs using their technical expertise for requirements. They identify business opportunities by analyzing sales movements and conducting statistical data management that would generate more revenue resources and attract business partnerships. A senior sales engineer recommends process improvement techniques to meet client requirements and specifications within budget limitations and deadlines.

What does a software engineer do?

A software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer. They have substantial knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and other technologies. They use these to turn a plan into a final output. They can create a design, test, and develop software based on the needs of their clients.

Senior sales engineer vs software engineer salary

Senior sales engineers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Sales EngineerSoftware Engineer
Average salary$116,026$100,260
Salary rangeBetween $86,000 And $154,000Between $73,000 And $136,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Bruno, CA
Highest paying stateVirginiaCalifornia
Best paying companyTeslaThe Citadel
Best paying industryProfessionalStart-up

Differences between senior sales engineer and software engineer education

There are a few differences between a senior sales engineer and a software engineer in terms of educational background:

Senior Sales EngineerSoftware Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorBusinessComputer Science
Most common collegeStanford UniversityHarvard University

Senior sales engineer vs software engineer demographics

Here are the differences between senior sales engineers' and software engineers' demographics:

Senior Sales EngineerSoftware Engineer
Average age4439
Gender ratioMale, 91.5% Female, 8.5%Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 1.6% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 7.1% White, 77.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage7%8%

Differences between senior sales engineer and software engineer duties and responsibilities

Senior sales engineer example responsibilities.

  • Create tools to manage customer projects, such as standardized proposals, technical templates, and SQL tracking database.
  • Provide pre-sales, complex technical solutions for client voice/data applications with sales team.
  • Coordinate all pre-sales support resources including product development, engineering, and technical support.
  • Perform equipment configuration of DSLAM equipment, routers, and switches.
  • Establish software value and drive customer sales by establishing ROI and TCO initiatives.
  • Develop complex data models and implement complex workflows using webhooks, javascript and multiple APIs.
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Software engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage product releases, solve software bugs in a client/server environment, write UNIX shell scripts to manage development environments.
  • Manage responsive UI design, implementing complex, dynamic functionality.
  • Define continuous integration process and configure Jenkins build server to manage it.
  • Develop a python serial communication program to automate test procedures and verify proper operation.
  • Manage website/software/mobile applications by generating full scope requirements base upon PMI / SDLC guidance.
  • Contribute to implementing microservices used to manage entities and maintain a synchronize state between supplier and distributor.
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Senior sales engineer vs software engineer skills

Common senior sales engineer skills
  • Pre Sales, 8%
  • Cloud, 6%
  • Product Demonstrations, 6%
  • Product Management, 5%
  • Technical Expertise, 4%
  • RFI, 4%
Common software engineer skills
  • Java, 15%
  • Python, 9%
  • Software Development, 6%
  • Database, 3%
  • GIT, 3%
  • Object Oriented Programming, 3%