Sales Engineer salary in California
Sales Engineers in California earn a median of $139,160 a year ($66.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,370 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $124,900. California ranks 6th of 44 states for sales engineers pay. There are 0.35 sales engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $146,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sales engineers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| 25th percentile | $102,770 | $49.41 |
| Median | $139,160 | $66.90 |
| 75th percentile | $174,510 | $83.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,370 | $102.58 |
| Average (mean) | $146,590 | $70.48 |
Half of sales engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,596.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,798.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,352.31 |
| Weekly | $2,676.15 |
| Hourly | $66.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sales Engineer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $177,490 | 1,600 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $163,810 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $151,610 | 930 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $143,970 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $138,560 | 220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $133,380 | 1,770 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $132,510 | 40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $126,310 | 90 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $122,610 | 360 |
| Fresno, CA | $111,160 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $105,040 | 170 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $97,800 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for sales engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Delaware | $167,200 |
| Maryland | $153,410 |
| Rhode Island | $149,750 |
| Washington | $147,620 |
| Colorado | $139,990 |
| California | $139,160 |
| New Jersey | $139,010 |
| New York | $137,480 |
| Massachusetts | $136,200 |
| West Virginia | $135,260 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $52,810 | $25.39 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $57,560 | $27.68 |
| Real Estate Broker | $80,450 | $38.68 |
| Telemarketer | $46,000 | $22.12 |
| Model | $57,400 | $27.60 |
| Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| Retail Salesperson | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Cashier | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $80,850 | $38.87 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $76,490 | $36.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $54,870 | $26.38 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $79,730 | $38.33 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 41-9031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sales engineer make in California?
The median salary for sales engineers in California is $139,160 a year, or $66.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sales engineers make in California?
The top 10% of sales engineers in California earn at least $213,370 a year. The top 25% earn $174,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for sales engineers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,850 a year, and a quarter of sales engineers earn $102,770 or less.
How many sales engineers work in California?
About 6,310 sales engineers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.