California Median
$139,160
per year
Hourly Rate
$66.90
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+11% vs US median
US median $124,900
State Rank
#6 of 44
6,310 employed here
How much does a Sales Engineer make in California?
Sales Engineers in California take home a median of $139,160 annually — roughly $66.90 an hour — which runs 11% above the national median of $124,900.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $78,850 while the top 10% make $213,370 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $102,770 and $174,510 a year.
Sales Engineer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,850 | $37.91 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $102,770 | $49.41 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $139,160 | $66.90 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $174,510 | $83.90 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,370 | $102.58 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 6th out of 44 states and territories for Sales Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Sales Engineer salary in other states
Delaware $167,200Maryland $153,410Rhode Island $149,750Washington $147,620Colorado $139,990New Jersey $139,010New York $137,480Massachusetts $136,200West Virginia $135,260Arizona $131,870Arkansas $130,760Texas $130,610Oregon $128,170Idaho $128,030Florida $125,530Connecticut $123,660Louisiana $121,680North Carolina $121,530New Mexico $119,420South Dakota $119,110Wisconsin $117,970Utah $117,650Vermont $116,790Oklahoma $114,520South Carolina $114,250Michigan $114,180Tennessee $111,580New Hampshire $107,850Alabama $104,410Minnesota $100,570Illinois $99,710Nevada $99,020Georgia $98,840Pennsylvania $98,500Kansas $98,000Ohio $97,420Maine $95,180Missouri $90,960Kentucky $90,190Nebraska $90,140Iowa $83,450Indiana $74,960Alaska $71,080
Working as a Sales Engineer in California
Nationally, about 52,000 people work as Sales Engineers in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($139,160) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Sales Engineer make in California?
The median Sales Engineer salary in California is $139,160 per year, or about $66.90 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $78,850 at the entry level to $213,370 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Sales Engineers about 11% more than the national median of $124,900. California ranks 6th out of 44 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Sales Engineers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $139,160 a year. About 6,310 Sales Engineers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Sales Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.