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Marketing & Sales · Strategic Sales

Sales engineer: engineering degree (or technical experience), then on-the-job sales training

Sales engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field such as business; candidates without a degree sometimes qualify with sales and technical experience. New hires get on-the-job training in sales techniques and the product.

For: Engineers and tech people who like explaining complex products and meeting customers.

See the roadmap Sales Engineer guide

Route 1: Engineering degree → co-op or internship → sales training Typical

Engineering programs include mathematics and the physical sciences; marketing and communications courses also may help.

  1. Start here

    High school diploma

    BLS
    Sales Engineers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
    Checked
    20 Oct 2026
    View source

  2. About 4 years

    Bachelor's in engineering or a related field such as business

    BLS
    Sales Engineers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
    Checked
    20 Oct 2026
    View source

  3. During college

    Cooperative education program or internship

    BLS
    Sales Engineers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
    Checked
    20 Oct 2026
    View source

  4. On the job

    Sales training with a mentor

    General sales techniques and the details of the product.

    BLS
    Sales Engineers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
    Checked
    20 Oct 2026
    View source

  5. Goal

    Sales engineer

    BLS
    Sales Engineers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
    Checked
    20 Oct 2026
    View source

Route 2: Technical job first → sales engineer Some employers prefer

Sales engineers who sell software may have worked as a software developer or computer systems analyst; candidates without a degree sometimes qualify with sales and technical experience or training.

  1. Start here

    Engineering or IT job

    BLS
    Sales Engineers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
    Checked
    20 Oct 2026
    View source
    Systems analyst

  2. On the job

    Sales training

    BLS
    Sales Engineers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
    Checked
    20 Oct 2026
    View source

  3. Goal

    Sales engineer

    Promotions may bring a higher commission rate, a larger territory, or supervisor or sales manager.

    BLS
    Sales Engineers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)
    Checked
    20 Oct 2026
    View source
    Sales manager

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What the job is, BLS pay and job outlook, and how to become one.

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