Sales Engineer salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Sales Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $104,070 a year ($50.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 790 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,330 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $124,900. Pay here is 4% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $99,710. There are 0.17 sales engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $113,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sales engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,300 | $38.61 |
| 25th percentile | $91,250 | $43.87 |
| Median | $104,070 | $50.04 |
| 75th percentile | $136,550 | $65.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,330 | $77.56 |
| Average (mean) | $113,830 | $54.73 |
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 | $8,672.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,336.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,002.69 |
| Weekly | $2,001.35 |
| Hourly | $50.04 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sales Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $102,910 | 340 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $98,820 | 130 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $92,650 | 340 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $90,190 | 130 |
| Rockford, IL | $75,320 | 110 |
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 |
See Sales Engineer pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $53,270 | $25.61 |
| Telemarketer | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Real Estate Broker | $67,320 | $32.36 |
| Model | $53,700 | $25.82 |
| Cashier | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,820 | $17.22 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $70,710 | $34.00 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $75,350 | $36.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $100,760 | $48.44 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $69,240 | $33.29 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $38,180 | $18.35 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for sales engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $104,070 a year, or $50.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sales engineers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of sales engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $161,330 a year. The top 25% earn $136,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for sales engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,300 a year, and a quarter of sales engineers earn $91,250 or less.
How many sales engineers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 790 sales engineers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.