Sales Engineers Salary in California
The median pay for a sales engineers in California is $134,990/year ($64.9/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $211K for experienced workers.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $135K get you in California?
About sales engineers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level sales engineers (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K.Top earners bring in $211K or more - a $132K spread from bottom to top.
Sales Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $179K | +48% | N/A |
| Arizona | $169K | +39% | 1,220 |
| Delaware | $166K | +37% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $145K | +20% | 1,960 |
| Tennessee | $144K | +19% | 1,040 |
| New York | $138K | +13% | 2,970 |
| Virginia | $135K | +11% | 1,190 |
| California | $135K | +11% | 6,980 |
| Montana | $135K | +11% | 40 |
| West Virginia | $133K | +9% | N/A |
| Texas | $127K | +4% | 8,870 |
| Nevada | $125K | +3% | 350 |
| Maryland | $124K | +2% | 470 |
| Louisiana | $122K | +1% | N/A |
| Washington | $122K | +1% | 760 |
Track sales engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Sales
Frequently asked questions
How much do sales engineers make in California?
The median is $134,990 a year - that works out to about $64.9 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,600, and experienced sales engineers can clear $211,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,861/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom in this state rents for about $2,201/month (median of metro areas), which eats 28% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a sales engineers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median sales engineers salary is worth about $134,990 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sales engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.