How much does a sales engineer make?
The median sales engineer in the United States earns $124,900 per year, about $60.05 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all sales engineers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 41-9031.
Sales engineer salary range
Pay for sales engineers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $73,870 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $195,270. The average (mean) wage of $130,140 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $73,870 | $35.52 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $92,890 | $44.66 | |
| Median (50th) | $124,900 | $60.05 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $161,230 | $77.52 | |
| 90th percentile | $195,270 | $93.88 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for sales engineers (SOC 41-9031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Sales engineer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Sales engineers earn the most in Delaware at $167,200 a year, and the least in Alaska at $71,080. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $167,200 | 80 |
| Maryland | $153,410 | 850 |
| Rhode Island | $149,750 | 30 |
| Washington | $147,620 | 760 |
| Colorado | $139,990 | 2,800 |
| California | $139,160 | 6,310 |
| New Jersey | $139,010 | 1,760 |
| New York | $137,480 | 3,150 |
| Massachusetts | $136,200 | 3,150 |
| West Virginia | $135,260 | 40 |
| Arizona | $131,870 | 1,000 |
| Arkansas | $130,760 | 30 |
| Texas | $130,610 | 6,800 |
| Oregon | $128,170 | 540 |
| Idaho | $128,030 | 360 |
| Florida | $125,530 | 2,410 |
| Connecticut | $123,660 | 760 |
| Louisiana | $121,680 | N/A |
| North Carolina | $121,530 | 2,530 |
| New Mexico | $119,420 | 80 |
| South Dakota | $119,110 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $117,970 | 1,300 |
| Utah | $117,650 | 480 |
| Vermont | $116,790 | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $114,520 | 290 |
| South Carolina | $114,250 | 770 |
| Michigan | $114,180 | 2,290 |
| Tennessee | $111,580 | 530 |
| New Hampshire | $107,850 | 300 |
| Alabama | $104,410 | 220 |
| Minnesota | $100,570 | 990 |
| Illinois | $99,710 | 1,150 |
| Nevada | $99,020 | 320 |
| Georgia | $98,840 | 1,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,500 | 1,980 |
| Kansas | $98,000 | 220 |
| Ohio | $97,420 | 1,210 |
| Maine | $95,180 | 140 |
| Missouri | $90,960 | 710 |
| Kentucky | $90,190 | 380 |
| Nebraska | $90,140 | 130 |
| Iowa | $83,450 | 310 |
| Indiana | $74,960 | 980 |
| Alaska | $71,080 | N/A |
State median wages for sales engineers (SOC 41-9031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for sales engineers
The BLS projects employment of sales engineers to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 51,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 53,000 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 3,800 openings a year for sales engineers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a sales engineer
The typical entry-level education for sales engineers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a sales engineer earns
Commission structure, product, employer, and territory drive a wide pay spread. Top performers in high ticket sales earn far above the median.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Delaware, $167,200) and the lowest (Alaska, $71,080) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 51,790 people work as sales engineers in the United States. At $124,900 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Sales engineer salary FAQ
How much does a sales engineer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a sales engineer is $60.05. The middle half of sales engineers earn between $44.66 and $77.52 per hour.
What is the highest sales engineer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of sales engineers earn more than $195,270 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a sales engineer make a year?
The median annual salary for a sales engineer is $124,900. The average (mean) wage of $130,140 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a sales engineer a well paid job?
At $124,900 a year, a sales engineer earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 51,790 people work as sales engineers in the United States.
Which state pays sales engineers the most?
Delaware has the highest median salary for sales engineers at $167,200 a year. Maryland ($153,410) and Rhode Island ($149,750) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a sales engineer a good career?
Employment of sales engineers is projected to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 3,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a sales engineer?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for sales engineers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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