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Senior sales engineer vs technical sales representative

The differences between senior sales engineers and technical 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 senior sales engineer, becoming a technical sales representative takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior sales engineer has an average salary of $116,026, which is higher than the $71,310 average annual salary of a technical sales representative.

The top three skills for a senior sales engineer include pre sales, cloud and product demonstrations. The most important skills for a technical sales representative are sales process, business development, and sales support.

Senior sales engineer vs technical sales representative overview

Senior Sales EngineerTechnical Sales Representative
Yearly salary$116,026$71,310
Hourly rate$55.78$34.28
Growth rate6%4%
Number of jobs81,179237,456
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4447
Years of experience62

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 technical sales representative do?

A technical sales representative is responsible for selling products and services by demonstrating the product's details and features to existing and potential clients. Technical sales representatives evaluate clients' needs and recommend solutions through the organization's technology-based products. They also assist with promotional offers and marketing campaigns to boost brand awareness and increase revenues and achieve profitability goals while ensuring the highest customer satisfaction. A technical sales representative must have excellent communication and customer service skills, handling customers' inquiries, and resolving complaints.

Senior sales engineer vs technical sales representative salary

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

Senior Sales EngineerTechnical Sales Representative
Average salary$116,026$71,310
Salary rangeBetween $86,000 And $154,000Between $39,000 And $129,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateVirginiaNew York
Best paying companyTeslaGoogle
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between senior sales engineer and technical sales representative education

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

Senior Sales EngineerTechnical Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior sales engineer vs technical sales representative demographics

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

Senior Sales EngineerTechnical Sales Representative
Average age4447
Gender ratioMale, 91.5% Female, 8.5%Male, 73.3% Female, 26.7%
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, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage7%6%

Differences between senior sales engineer and technical sales representative 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.
  • Show more

Technical sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Administer product and system design engineering support, prepare RFP responses, deliver presentations, and manage field support calls.
  • Manage and assist a vast customer base in the market for new roofing needs after a large hail storm in Lubbock.
  • Conduct sales, build orders, maintain cleanliness and ensure customer satisfaction.
  • Direct overall account customer relations and assist in OEM product development.
  • Maintain cleanliness provide exceptional customer satisfaction by assisting them in the selection of update fashion to complement their selection.
  • Document key sales activities in the company's customer relationship management (CRM) system.
  • Show more

Senior sales engineer vs technical sales representative skills

Common senior sales engineer skills
  • Pre Sales, 8%
  • Cloud, 6%
  • Product Demonstrations, 6%
  • Product Management, 5%
  • Technical Expertise, 4%
  • RFI, 4%
Common technical sales representative skills
  • Sales Process, 23%
  • Business Development, 17%
  • Sales Support, 15%
  • Post Sales, 12%
  • Java, 5%
  • OEM, 3%