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The differences between technical sales engineers and technical sales managers 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 a technical sales manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a technical sales manager has an average salary of $129,770, which is higher than the $88,623 average annual salary of a technical sales engineer.
The top three skills for a technical sales engineer include customer service, sales process and product line. The most important skills for a technical sales manager are customer satisfaction, sales management, and CRM.
| Technical Sales Engineer | Technical Sales Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $88,623 | $129,770 |
| Hourly rate | $42.61 | $62.39 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 161,743 | 193,981 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 8 |
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.
A technical sales manager is responsible for monitoring the sales techniques and performance of the sales team in selling technical services and systems to the customers. Technical sales managers coordinate with clients to discuss and negotiate offers of new products and services. They also identify business opportunities by analyzing current technology trends from public demands to generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profits. A technical sales manager facilitates and plans sales training and programs to maximize staff's efficiency and productivity.
Technical sales engineers and technical sales managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Sales Engineer | Technical Sales Manager | |
| Average salary | $88,623 | $129,770 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $122,000 | Between $90,000 And $186,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Columbia, MD |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Palo Alto Networks | |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a technical sales engineer and a technical sales manager in terms of educational background:
| Technical Sales Engineer | Technical Sales Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between technical sales engineers' and technical sales managers' demographics:
| Technical Sales Engineer | Technical Sales Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |