Salary guide, May 2025
Sales Engineer pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Sales Engineers in the United States was $124,900 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $92,890 and $161,230.
Also searched as: Technical Sales Engineer. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Broader occupation · SOC 41-9031 Sales Engineers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $73,870 | $92,890 | $124,900 | $161,230 | $195,270 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35.52 | $44.66 | $60.05 | $77.52 | $93.88 |
BLS estimated 51,790 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 41-9031 Sales Engineers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $128,670 | $106,630 to $155,850 | 510 | 0.54 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $123,350 | $80,210 to $160,570 | 450 | 0.92 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $97,920 | $73,490 to $138,100 | 340 | 0.72 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $129,520 | $97,400 to $193,100 | 570 | 2.29 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $147,570 | $120,730 to $172,340 | 3,440 | 1.09 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $147,570 | $120,730 to $172,340 | 3,440 | 1.09 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $133,280 | $101,080 to $166,070 | 2,690 | 1.99 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $104,070 | $91,250 to $136,550 | 790 | 0.52 |
Rank every metro for Sales Engineer
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels. Nested NAICS rows overlap; they are not independent samples and must not be added together. Identical source rows repeated at different publication levels appear once.
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (NAICS 334000)$128,980
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (NAICS 327000)$117,940
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing (NAICS 335000)$103,590
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 336000)$103,530
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing (NAICS 339000)$102,340
- Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 325000)$101,610
- Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (NAICS 326000)$100,560
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (NAICS 332000)$97,570
- Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS 333000)$96,510
- Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331000)$95,850
Bars compare up to 15 non-overlapping 3-digit manufacturing subsectors with exact annual medians. More detailed scopes remain in the table, identified by code and publication level.
| NAICS / scope | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 · sector | Manufacturing | 10,860 | $83,120 | $103,140 | $134,440 |
| 334000 · 3-digit | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 3,480 | $97,640 | $128,980 | $166,870 |
| 333000 · 3-digit | Machinery Manufacturing | 3,140 | $79,660 | $96,510 | $117,580 |
| 3330A1 · 4-digit | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 2,150 | $79,430 | $94,180 | $116,970 |
| 334500 · 4-digit | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 1,560 | $81,450 | $107,860 | $139,410 |
| 332000 · 3-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 1,470 | $80,020 | $97,570 | $115,000 |
| 335000 · 3-digit | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 980 | $87,930 | $103,590 | $131,960 |
| 334400 · 4-digit | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 890 | $99,550 | $135,000 | $174,280 |
| 3320A1 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 670 | $82,950 | $102,240 | $124,330 |
| 336000 · 3-digit | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 670 | $82,910 | $103,530 | $134,580 |
| 334100 · 4-digit | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 620 | $137,480 | $168,500 | $215,470 |
| 333500 · 4-digit | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 590 | $75,320 | $96,770 | $105,230 |
| 335300 · 4-digit | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 560 | $84,070 | $101,670 | $126,660 |
| 3320A2 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 450 | $79,460 | $97,380 | $112,590 |
| 334200 · 4-digit | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 400 | $103,000 | $131,840 | $151,950 |
| 335900 · 4-digit | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 390 | $92,680 | $115,950 | $137,650 |
| 336400 · 4-digit | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 370 | $82,900 | $102,200 | $129,640 |
| 339000 · 3-digit | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 310 | $84,110 | $102,340 | $132,150 |
| 325000 · 3-digit | Chemical Manufacturing | 290 | $85,250 | $101,610 | $133,640 |
| 332700 · 4-digit | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 290 | $79,220 | $92,830 | $103,510 |
| 336300 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 260 | $81,580 | $109,210 | $135,470 |
| 3250A1 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 210 | $89,340 | $104,940 | $146,340 |
| 333300 · 4-digit | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 210 | $80,760 | $101,090 | $119,280 |
| 333600 · 4-digit | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 200 | $93,710 | $112,680 | $155,730 |
| 326000 · 3-digit | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 190 | $83,910 | $100,560 | $119,780 |
| 332710 · 5-digit | Machine Shops | 190 | $81,850 | $95,670 | $107,760 |
| 331000 · 3-digit | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 180 | $72,530 | $95,850 | $112,540 |
| 339100 · 4-digit | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 160 | $81,330 | $93,860 | $106,860 |
| 326100 · 4-digit | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 150 | $86,780 | $101,010 | $119,360 |
| 339900 · 4-digit | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 150 | $97,710 | $128,680 | $137,120 |
| 327000 · 3-digit | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 100 | $91,310 | $117,940 | $132,870 |
| 332720 · 5-digit | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 100 | $71,460 | $84,500 | $95,440 |
| 331500 · 4-digit | Foundries | 80 | $78,240 | $87,170 | $108,620 |
| 332800 · 4-digit | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 70 | $66,150 | $80,020 | $102,710 |
| 3250A2 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 50 | $79,090 | $94,850 | $114,310 |
| 326200 · 4-digit | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 40 | $83,710 | $98,100 | $132,400 |
| 331100 · 4-digit | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 40 | $102,370 | $137,990 | $161,960 |
| 335100 · 4-digit | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 30 | $85,420 | $103,490 | $163,220 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Sales Engineer, separate the guaranteed salary from any discretionary bonus or commission arrangement. OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. It includes base rate, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits.
An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure. Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $90,690 | $121,520 | $159,200 |
| May 2025 | $92,890 | $124,900 | $161,230 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about application and product depth?
We pose a realistic application and ask how they would choose a solution. We listen for questions about duty cycle, environment, supply, standards and failure modes. We ask what they do when the right answer is a competitor's product. We also ask how they document an application so the next engineer can follow it, and how they handle a customer who insists on a specification that will not work.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Sales Engineer?
The median annual wage for Sales Engineers in the United States was $124,900 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $92,890 and $161,230. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $73,870. 90% earned less than $195,270.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Sales Engineer at a plant?
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 51,790 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
VP of Sales (Industrial) pay Regional Sales Manager / Technical Sales Manager pay Applications Engineer pay Field Service Engineer pay Service / Aftermarket Manager pay Sales Engineer pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Sales Engineer recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
Sales Engineers fill a unique technical role, serving as the bridge between engineering specs and customer needs. They are categorized under SOC 41-9031. This is a specialized group that combines technical product knowledge with commercial acumen, focusing on areas like motion control, automation, or fluid power. For Sales Engineer in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates.
The May 2025 median is $124,900; the May 2024 median is $121,520. Their arithmetic difference is $3,380. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. Manufacturing Headhunters notes that while this gives a clear baseline, technical product sales engineers often command higher compensation, particularly when tied to complex, long-cycle manufacturing equipment.
The middle-band width is $68,340, ranging from the P25 of $92,890 to the P75 of $161,230. For Sales Engineer in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded. The P10 of $73,870 and P90 of $195,270 suggest that at the top end, these roles can be extremely lucrative.
Regional markets show distinctive shifts for this role. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports a median of $147,570, which is down from $156,170 in the previous release. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro shows a median of $133,280, up from $126,270. Dallas holds a location quotient of 1.99 compared to 1.09 in New York, indicating a stronger concentration of this occupation in the Dallas regional economy. These shifts represent the movement of the reported market median and do not indicate a change in candidate availability.
National industry benchmarks at the sectoral level provide critical guideposts. Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing reports a median of $168,500, Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing stands at $137,990, and Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing reports $135,000. These figures are generally higher than the $124,900 national median. For firms in high-tech or heavy industry, these sectoral medians serve as a realistic baseline for what it takes to secure proven sales engineering talent capable of translating complex product configurations for clients.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
For Sales Engineer in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $124,900; the May 2024 median is $121,520. Their arithmetic difference is $3,380. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
What can I conclude from the two release estimates?
For Sales Engineer in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $124,900; the May 2024 median is $121,520. Their arithmetic difference is $3,380. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. It indicates the reported movement of the overall median for that specific occupational group in the New York metropolitan statistical area.
Are these figures reflective of the full compensation, including commissions?
For Sales Engineer in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded.
What is the significance of the high location quotient in Dallas?
A location quotient of 1.99 means that Dallas has nearly twice the concentration of Sales Engineer positions compared to the national average. This higher concentration suggests a very strong professional network and employer base for this role in the region.
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