Sales Engineer salary in Columbia, SC
Sales Engineers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $108,830 a year ($52.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $214,250 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $124,900. Pay here is 5% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $114,250. There are 0.26 sales engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $132,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sales engineers in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| 25th percentile | $95,260 | $45.80 |
| Median | $108,830 | $52.32 |
| 75th percentile | $171,970 | $82.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $214,250 | $103.00 |
| Average (mean) | $132,910 | $63.90 |
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 | $9,069.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,534.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,185.77 |
| Weekly | $2,092.88 |
| Hourly | $52.32 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $124,870 | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $110,610 | 800 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $102,800 | 140 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $97,960 | 30 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $96,520 | 40 |
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 South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $49,480 | $23.79 |
| Telemarketer | $36,100 | $17.36 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Retail Salesperson | $29,540 | $14.20 |
| Cashier | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $62,470 | $30.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $47,680 | $22.92 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $74,100 | $35.63 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $58,890 | $28.31 |
| Parts Salesperson | $34,310 | $16.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $75,630 | $36.36 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $109,080 | $52.44 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for sales engineers in the Columbia, SC metro area is $108,830 a year, or $52.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $214,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sales engineers make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of sales engineers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $214,250 a year. The top 25% earn $171,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for sales engineers in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,000 a year, and a quarter of sales engineers earn $95,260 or less.
How many sales engineers work in Columbia, SC?
About 100 sales engineers are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.