What is Technical Sales?
A job in Technical Sales (also known as Technical Sales Engineering, or Sales Engineer) requires a combination of sales skills as well as technical understanding. While sales is at the core of the Technical Salesman’s job duties, (s)he also will be required to have an in depth understanding of the complex technical products which (s)he is selling. It is The Technical Salesman’s job to contact potential customer’s of the product, and explain the how the product will help alleviate the customer’s specific problems and concerns. Often, even after the sale has been closed, the Technical Salesmen will remain as a point of contact for the customer, to liaise any product problems or troubleshooting, and to maintain the business relationship with the customer.
Technical Salesmen are constantly seeking out new clients, and its is not uncommon to undertake interstate travel in order to find potential customers. International travel is becoming increasingly common. Technical Salesmen work long hours, usually more than 40 hours a week, and can expect to spend days, if not weeks away from home. Due to the nature of the job, however, the can often set their own hours, which can help balance the long work week hours. Increasingly, Technical Salesmen are becoming more involved in market research. This is due to the fact that they have first hand knowledge of the customers needs and wants for the product.
What kind of education is necessary?
A bachelor’s degree in engineering is usually required to attain this job, though some are able to become a Technical Salesmen with an equivalent degree or proper on-the-job experience. This usually includes an understanding of sales fundamentals, distribution principles, advertising methods and technical expertise.
Most Technical Salesmen work for large technical companies involved in advanced electronics, or information technology. A large part of the value the technical salesman has to offer to potential clients lies in their advanced understanding of the product itself. Because of this, constant retraining in the field is required to stay on top of product changes in and to not get left behind in an ever changing market.
What is the job outlook for Technical Sales?
According the the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job growth for Technical Sales is expected to stay around average. Earnings can be a base salary, salary plus commission, or pure commission. The BLS also states that, as of May 2008, the median income for Techical Sales was $83,100, with the highest ten percent making in excess of $136,770 a year. Because of the high earnings potential, competition for these jobs is expected to stay high.
Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The salary range for Technical Sales begins around $35,000 and usually tops out around $136,770, with a mean in the neighborhood of $85,885. This is about 98% higher than the national average for annual salaries.
In order to qualify for most Technical Sales positions, you typically need to have a Bachelor's Degree or higher.
Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The growth outlook for Technical Sales careers is estimated at about 7% while the estimated growth for all career fields over that same span is at about 10.12%. Over the next six years, Technical Sales jobs are expected to grow at a 45% lower rate than the national average for annual salaries.