Sales engineers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Sales Engineers: Sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering.
Sales engineers held about 74,000 jobs in 2004. About 35 percent were employed in wholesale trade and another 27 percent were employed in the manufacturing industries. Smaller numbers of sales engineers worked in information industries, such as software publishers and telecommunications; professional, scientific, and technical services, such as computer systems designs and related services and architectural, engineering, and related services; and other industries. Unlike workers in many other sales occupations, very few sales engineers are self-employed.
Compensation varies significantly by the type of firm and the product sold. Most employers offer a combination of salary and commission payments or a salary plus a bonus. Commissions usually are based on the amount of sales, whereas bonuses may depend on individual performance, on the performance of all workers in the group or district, or on the company’s performance. Earnings from commissions and bonuses may vary greatly from year to year, depending on sales ability, the demand for the company’s products or services, and the overall economy.
Median annual earnings of sales engineers, including commissions, were $70,620 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $53,270 and $91,500 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,430, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $117,260 a year. Median annual earnings of those employed by firms in the computer systems design and related services industry were $86,980.
In addition to their earnings, sales engineers who work for manufacturers usually are reimbursed for expenses such as transportation, meals, hotels, and customer entertainment. In addition to typical benefits, sales engineers often get personal use of a company car and frequent-flyer mileage. Some companies offer incentives such as free vacation trips or gifts for outstanding performance. Sales engineers who work in independent firms may have higher but less stable earnings and, often, relatively few benefits.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Sales Engineers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Sales engineers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: n.a. mean earnings: $91,900 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,280 | $61,480 | $84,840 | $120,290 | $143,420 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 50 mean earnings: $82,970 | $50,240 | $72,130 | $82,550 | $99,140 | $118,440 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: n.a. mean earnings: $94,790 | $37,710 | $58,570 | $86,710 | $127,190 | >$145K |
| Utilities employment: 110 mean earnings: $95,410 (EC) (def) (IG) | $53,700 | $68,550 | $92,820 | $107,850 | >$145K |
| Utilities employment: 110 mean earnings: $95,410 | $53,700 | $68,550 | $92,820 | $107,850 | >$145K |
| Construction employment: 850 mean earnings: $72,870 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,410 | $52,160 | $65,850 | $83,310 | $117,370 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 110 mean earnings: $79,120 | $43,630 | $58,420 | $71,420 | $95,730 | $135,370 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: n.a. mean earnings: $67,590 | $39,360 | $51,020 | $63,980 | $76,110 | $103,250 |
| Manufacturing employment: 18,410 mean earnings: $73,740 (EC) (def) (IG) | $45,050 | $55,340 | $70,160 | $88,230 | $110,340 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 220 mean earnings: $67,650 | $40,640 | $53,350 | $66,400 | $81,410 | $97,140 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 140 mean earnings: $65,750 | $39,690 | $47,070 | $60,920 | $80,980 | $96,680 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 90 mean earnings: $69,780 | $39,060 | $59,930 | $69,050 | $81,140 | $91,060 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 130 mean earnings: $68,200 | $46,170 | $53,800 | $66,120 | $81,960 | $93,840 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 960 mean earnings: $67,430 | $40,070 | $49,800 | $61,270 | $79,870 | $98,600 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 6,320 mean earnings: $67,630 | $42,450 | $51,790 | $64,940 | $81,240 | $97,320 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 7,810 mean earnings: $80,460 | $47,430 | $60,910 | $77,070 | $96,910 | $118,110 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 1,460 mean earnings: $72,240 | $45,960 | $55,170 | $68,730 | $86,320 | $107,530 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 1,100 mean earnings: $72,870 | $49,160 | $57,100 | $73,200 | $86,190 | $95,410 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 30 mean earnings: $59,680 | $40,720 | $49,380 | $57,890 | $67,420 | $73,130 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 90 mean earnings: $69,840 | $47,210 | $52,250 | $62,070 | $79,200 | $120,250 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 26,610 mean earnings: $77,130 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,800 | $52,930 | $70,470 | $92,110 | $121,970 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 19,640 mean earnings: $74,660 | $40,870 | $52,370 | $68,710 | $88,960 | $116,110 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 480 mean earnings: $64,970 | $34,940 | $42,690 | $53,930 | $80,690 | $109,470 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 6,480 mean earnings: $85,530 | $41,550 | $56,810 | $78,920 | $106,410 | $139,940 |
| Retail Trade employment: 2,400 mean earnings: $90,050 (EC) (def) (IG) | $44,840 | $60,130 | $78,930 | $113,760 | >$145K |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 1,910 mean earnings: $92,630 | $48,250 | $61,820 | $81,610 | $117,340 | >$145K |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 250 mean earnings: $81,820 | $39,230 | $60,200 | $73,930 | $98,270 | $132,900 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 100 mean earnings: $88,170 | $46,370 | $61,540 | $71,320 | $88,710 | >$145K |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 180 mean earnings: $54,860 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,000 | $40,490 | $53,440 | $67,910 | $85,990 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 90 mean earnings: $57,410 | $35,110 | $47,670 | $54,890 | $69,530 | $84,200 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 60 mean earnings: $45,960 | $24,990 | $26,970 | $48,380 | $58,190 | $70,110 |
| Information employment: 7,190 mean earnings: $86,470 (EC) (def) (IG) | $50,830 | $65,310 | $82,810 | $103,900 | $126,290 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 1,470 mean earnings: $103,400 | $64,480 | $82,550 | $103,340 | $119,920 | $142,710 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: n.a. mean earnings: $75,810 | $38,300 | $56,390 | $79,150 | $96,700 | $112,110 |
| Telecommunications employment: 4,790 mean earnings: $78,090 | $48,590 | $61,720 | $77,110 | $91,530 | $110,100 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 810 mean earnings: $106,650 | $55,710 | $73,570 | $97,500 | $131,000 | >$145K |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 280 mean earnings: $85,500 (EC) (def) (IG) | $36,810 | $56,190 | $98,620 | $111,930 | $120,080 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: n.a. mean earnings: $94,370 | $47,940 | $74,430 | $104,500 | $114,710 | $121,040 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 40 mean earnings: $49,560 | $29,830 | $34,470 | $46,760 | $56,500 | $78,330 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 340 mean earnings: $106,530 (EC) (def) (IG) | $54,660 | $80,130 | $102,590 | $135,840 | >$145K |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 250 mean earnings: $109,500 | $56,500 | $81,450 | $104,780 | $138,800 | >$145K |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: n.a. mean earnings: $98,190 | $50,860 | $71,470 | $101,470 | $122,890 | $143,060 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 10,040 mean earnings: $89,240 (EC) (def) (IG) | $49,580 | $64,580 | $85,630 | $108,710 | $134,830 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 10,040 mean earnings: $89,240 | $49,580 | $64,580 | $85,630 | $108,710 | $134,830 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 1,980 mean earnings: $71,220 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,790 | $53,310 | $70,980 | $88,360 | $107,590 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 1,980 mean earnings: $71,220 | $33,790 | $53,310 | $70,980 | $88,360 | $107,590 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 830 mean earnings: $79,640 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,220 | $52,820 | $79,250 | $101,820 | $119,560 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 750 mean earnings: $81,380 | $41,400 | $56,400 | $82,070 | $103,120 | $119,980 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 80 mean earnings: $63,260 | $34,740 | $40,730 | $50,050 | $59,720 | $111,150 |
| Educational Services employment: 40 mean earnings: $84,760 (EC) (def) (IG) | $48,380 | $65,940 | $89,290 | $108,400 | $120,590 |
| Educational Services employment: 40 mean earnings: $84,760 | $48,380 | $65,940 | $89,290 | $108,400 | $120,590 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 270 mean earnings: $72,830 (EC) (def) (IG) | $45,250 | $54,740 | $71,200 | $85,320 | $102,560 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: n.a. mean earnings: $74,690 | $46,160 | $54,750 | $73,620 | $86,640 | $106,330 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 80 mean earnings: $77,790 (def) (IG) | $50,390 | $58,640 | $73,280 | $100,620 | $113,710 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 80 mean earnings: $77,790 | $50,390 | $58,640 | $73,280 | $100,620 | $113,710 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.