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The differences between technical 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 technical sales engineer, becoming an associate sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a technical sales engineer has an average salary of $88,623, which is higher than the $51,007 average annual salary of an associate sales representative.
The top three skills for a technical sales engineer include customer service, sales process and product line. The most important skills for an associate sales representative are work ethic, patients, and product knowledge.
| Technical Sales Engineer | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $88,623 | $51,007 |
| Hourly rate | $42.61 | $24.52 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 161,743 | 333,049 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A technical sales engineer is a sales professional who provides technical sales support and advice about the products and services. Your duties typically include consulting and selling on scientifically and technologically advanced products, organizing sales visits, and liaising contracts and terms and conditions. Additionally, you are expected to collaborate with the design, engineering, production, and research and development departments on how to modify products and services that meet customers' needs. You are also responsible for attending meetings, conferences, and trade shows.
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.
Technical sales engineers and associate sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Sales Engineer | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $88,623 | $51,007 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $122,000 | Between $37,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Verint | |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a technical sales engineer and an associate sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Technical Sales Engineer | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between technical sales engineers' and associate sales representatives' demographics:
| Technical Sales Engineer | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% | Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.6% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 8.7% White, 75.5% 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% |