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The differences between technical sales engineers and inside sales associates 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 inside sales associate takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a technical sales engineer has an average salary of $88,623, which is higher than the $40,687 average annual salary of an inside sales associate.
The top three skills for a technical sales engineer include customer service, sales process and product line. The most important skills for an inside sales associate are inside sales, sales associates, and strong customer service.
| Technical Sales Engineer | Inside Sales Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $88,623 | $40,687 |
| Hourly rate | $42.61 | $19.56 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 161,743 | 320,863 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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.
An inside sales associate is responsible for selling the company's goods and services through remote communication. Inside sales associates make calls to potential customers, demonstrate the products' features, take orders, process payments, and inform the customers of the delivery details. They strategize the most effective sales pitches to attract the customers on purchasing more services that would generate revenues and increase the company's profitability and brand image. An inside sales associate also supports the marketing team in developing marketing campaigns and promotional offers depending on customer demands and requests.
Technical sales engineers and inside sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Sales Engineer | Inside Sales Associate | |
| Average salary | $88,623 | $40,687 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $122,000 | Between $30,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Washington |
| Best paying company | MSCI | |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a technical sales engineer and an inside sales associate in terms of educational background:
| Technical Sales Engineer | Inside Sales Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 inside sales associates' demographics:
| Technical Sales Engineer | Inside Sales Associate | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% | Male, 57.3% Female, 42.7% |
| 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, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |