Salary for SW App Engineer?

Can anyone out there give me some guideance on what to expect in
salary for a solidworks application engineer position? I realize this
is a pretty broad question and the answer is going to be highly
dependent on my experience/skills and the job location but I am hoping
someone can give me a ballpark estimate. The job is in the US...

Thanks

 

It depends on who you are and who you work for. Low end is probably low-
30s (no degree, able to speak english, some basic computer skills). High
end could include commissions and might get into the 70s or 80s, but that
would take some time, talent and luck. Benefits typically are pretty poor.
Lord knows you can't make more than a salesman even though your knowledge,
skills and training are 5X what his are.

There are two good things about working for a reseller: 1) access to
software which you can learn if you're motivated, 2) meet a lot of people
who might hire you for more money and better benefits than you can make at
a reseller.

Resellers have this knack for hiring low-end kids out of college for cheap,
and hoping one develops the talent for performance. You really need a
little engineering knowledge (high school geometry would qualify), a
performer's flair, a lot of problem solving skills, and a lot of patience.
Oh, yeah, and any resemblance you have to a trained monkey also helps for
doing demos and training classes.

Just as a warning, neophytes are always given the most difficult job: Tech
Support. People who run reseller organizations are very rarely technical,
and probably are just thinking "tech support doesn't make me any money, but
I have to have it, so put the lowest paid newbie on the phones and let him
figure it out". I've seen that over and over again, and I think it's a
huge mistake. This is why most of the people in this NG know more about
SolidWorks than the guy that does their tech support.

To be really good, you've got to be a bit of a masochistic freak. I've
worked for 3 resellers. The one thing they have in commin is that they're
all cheap as hell. Sometimes I loved it, but the longer I did it, and the
more strictly "sales" oriented the work got, the less point I saw in it.

You might post the name of an organization you're contemplating and see if
anyone has experience with them before you sign your nights and weekends
away...

matt

 

Don't get jb started again .... he'll want to crank the handle
sooner or later ....

 

Some VARs will consider an AE overhead and will expend as little as
possible and put up with a lot of turnover. Others will view the AE as
a value to the company and customer. I have seen both. If the former,
don't expect to be there a long time, but consider the value of being
in that position as an investment in the future. Use it to learn the
software and develop the skill of helping others. If the VAR turns out
to be the latter you will enjoy the variety and challenges.

 

I too worked for a VAR (for almost 3 years) and Matt said it very well.
I really can't say much more than he did. The best part about it is
the contacts you make and where that will take you when you are tired
of working for the VAR's. If you do well and make good contacts at the
VAR level it will take you places out in the real world.

KM

 

Thanks for the response Matt, you were the person that I was hoping
would respond. I do not have a particular var in mind at this point but
considering the fact that they are fairly well distributed around the
country and the fact that I would like to see some other states I
thought it would be a good way to get around. Sounds like most any
other job, it could be good, it could be bad depending on co-workers
and the company culture. If I zero in on a particular var I will repost
to see what people think...

Thanks again...