Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Sales engineers (SOC 41-9031) employed 51,790 people in May 2025. The median pay is $124,900 a year ($60.05 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $73,870 and the highest-paid 10% more than $195,270. BLS projects its employment to change by +2.8% between 2025 and 2035 (about 3,800 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Bachelor's degree.
Highest median pay: Delaware ($167,200), Maryland ($153,410), Rhode Island ($149,750). Most jobs: Texas (6,800), California (6,310), Massachusetts (3,150).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,870 | $35.51 |
| 25th percentile | $92,890 | $44.66 |
| Median | $124,900 | $60.05 |
| Mean | $130,140 | $62.57 |
| 75th percentile | $161,230 | $77.51 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $195,270 | $93.88 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 51,600 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 53,000 |
| Change in jobs | 1,400 |
| Percent change | +2.8% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 3,800 |
| Self-employed share | n/a |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 220 | 0.32 | $104,410 | $64,190 | $222,800 | -16% | 12% |
| Arizona | 1,000 | 0.93 | $131,870 | $70,760 | $226,940 | +6% | 15% |
| Arkansas | 30 | 0.07 | $130,760 | $62,720 | $151,610 | +5% | 9% |
| California | 6,310 | 1.04 | $139,160 | $78,850 | $213,370 | +11% | 18% |
| Colorado | 2,800 | 2.93 | $139,990 | $83,420 | $203,230 | +12% | 16% |
| Connecticut | 760 | 1.34 | $123,660 | $70,000 | $211,890 | -1% | 15% |
| Delaware | 80 | 0.47 | $167,200 | $132,000 | $203,690 | +34% | 11% |
| Florida | 2,410 | 0.73 | $125,530 | $73,210 | $206,760 | +1% | 17% |
| Georgia | 1,630 | 1.00 | $98,840 | $72,580 | $159,760 | -21% | 18% |
| Idaho | 360 | 1.26 | $128,030 | $85,620 | $260,510 | +3% | 13% |
| Illinois | 1,150 | 0.57 | $99,710 | $74,570 | $162,590 | -20% | 16% |
| Indiana | 980 | 0.92 | $74,960 | $38,530 | $136,530 | -40% | 18% |
| Iowa | 310 | 0.61 | $83,450 | $74,290 | $150,640 | -33% | 14% |
| Kansas | 220 | 0.45 | $98,000 | $69,990 | $159,210 | -22% | 13% |
| Kentucky | 380 | 0.57 | $90,190 | $63,250 | $150,020 | -28% | 13% |
| Maine | 140 | 0.65 | $95,180 | $46,850 | $141,330 | -24% | 15% |
| Maryland | 850 | 0.93 | $153,410 | $102,490 | $153,410 | +23% | 13% |
| Massachusetts | 3,150 | 2.60 | $136,200 | $77,490 | $177,100 | +9% | 16% |
| Michigan | 2,290 | 1.56 | $114,180 | $75,330 | $194,980 | -9% | 12% |
| Minnesota | 990 | 1.00 | $100,570 | $68,630 | $147,230 | -19% | 15% |
| Mississippi | 90 | 0.24 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Missouri | 710 | 0.73 | $90,960 | $60,380 | $135,320 | -27% | 14% |
| Nebraska | 130 | 0.39 | $90,140 | $59,250 | $131,030 | -28% | 15% |
| Nevada | 320 | 0.62 | $99,020 | $52,960 | $200,380 | -21% | 21% |
| New Hampshire | 300 | 1.31 | $107,850 | $72,150 | $171,820 | -14% | 17% |
| New Jersey | 1,760 | 1.24 | $139,010 | $91,370 | $191,050 | +11% | 16% |
| New Mexico | 80 | 0.27 | $119,420 | $88,070 | $165,990 | -4% | 11% |
| New York | 3,150 | 0.98 | $137,480 | $78,690 | $218,680 | +10% | 14% |
| North Carolina | 2,530 | 1.54 | $121,530 | $73,070 | $216,580 | -3% | 13% |
| Ohio | 1,210 | 0.65 | $97,420 | $67,720 | $148,790 | -22% | 13% |
| Oklahoma | 290 | 0.51 | $114,520 | $50,720 | $167,060 | -8% | 11% |
| Oregon | 540 | 0.83 | $128,170 | $80,270 | $218,670 | +3% | 15% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,980 | 0.98 | $98,500 | $62,960 | $140,820 | -21% | 15% |
| Rhode Island | 30 | 0.21 | $149,750 | $45,060 | $185,570 | +20% | 11% |
| South Carolina | 770 | 1.01 | $114,250 | $78,540 | $172,850 | -9% | 13% |
| South Dakota | 100 | 0.65 | $119,110 | $81,270 | $162,470 | -5% | 10% |
| Tennessee | 530 | 0.49 | $111,580 | $63,890 | $174,770 | -11% | 14% |
| Texas | 6,800 | 1.45 | $130,610 | $78,730 | $201,850 | +5% | 14% |
| Utah | 480 | 0.84 | $117,650 | $58,570 | $163,550 | -6% | 16% |
| Virginia | 1,260 | 0.92 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Washington | 760 | 0.64 | $147,620 | $95,490 | $175,990 | +18% | 15% |
| West Virginia | 40 | 0.15 | $135,260 | $130,450 | $145,060 | +8% | 8% |
| Wisconsin | 1,300 | 1.33 | $117,970 | $79,240 | $167,980 | -6% | 12% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,600 | $177,490 | $100,830 | $242,520 | 4.24 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 330 | $175,310 | $88,710 | $290,910 | 2.88 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 520 | $153,560 | $98,010 | $175,990 | 0.75 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,010 | $153,410 | $102,490 | $188,620 | 0.97 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 930 | $151,610 | $86,660 | $216,540 | 1.18 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,440 | $147,570 | $90,260 | $218,680 | 1.09 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 2,010 | $139,990 | $83,420 | $202,570 | 3.75 |
| Boulder, CO | 350 | $138,720 | $79,330 | $210,000 | 5.45 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,230 | $137,960 | $78,550 | $216,770 | 2.86 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,410 | $136,620 | $78,750 | $187,740 | 2.67 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 850 | $135,050 | $73,310 | $232,080 | 1.07 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,770 | $133,380 | $71,140 | $174,510 | 0.85 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,690 | $133,280 | $81,230 | $191,170 | 1.99 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 490 | $129,850 | $81,210 | $218,670 | 1.22 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 570 | $129,520 | $79,570 | $259,510 | 2.29 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 510 | $128,670 | $82,840 | $195,780 | 0.54 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,340 | $127,800 | $79,280 | $203,590 | 1.22 |
| Worcester, MA | 320 | $125,800 | $66,180 | $165,680 | 2.71 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 300 | $125,530 | $74,830 | $216,060 | 1.50 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 450 | $123,350 | $68,650 | $236,270 | 0.92 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,250 | $122,990 | $80,710 | $194,980 | 1.98 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 360 | $122,610 | $76,350 | $186,590 | 0.70 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 450 | $119,950 | $84,630 | $219,810 | 1.63 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 800 | $110,610 | $68,690 | $179,600 | 1.78 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 790 | $104,070 | $80,300 | $161,330 | 0.52 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 340 | $102,910 | $78,100 | $145,120 | 0.77 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 750 | $102,790 | $61,860 | $141,800 | 1.15 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 670 | $102,340 | $61,900 | $168,280 | 0.70 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,250 | $99,230 | $74,680 | $163,060 | 1.30 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 340 | $97,920 | $66,940 | $169,920 | 0.72 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 370 | $97,430 | $62,960 | $160,800 | 0.99 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 340 | $92,650 | $65,920 | $137,370 | 0.91 |
The median is $124,900 a year ($60.05 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $73,870 and the highest-paid tenth over $195,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
51,790 in May 2025, and BLS projects +2.8% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Bachelor's degree (BLS).
Delaware, with a median of $167,200 (among states with published figures).