Sales Engineer salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Sales Engineers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $83,450 a year ($40.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,590 for the top 10%. That is 33% lower than the national median of $124,900. Pay here is about the same as the Iowa statewide median of $83,450. There are 0.40 sales engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $95,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sales engineers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,770 | $37.87 |
| 25th percentile | $83,450 | $40.12 |
| Median | $83,450 | $40.12 |
| 75th percentile | $89,960 | $43.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,590 | $65.67 |
| Average (mean) | $95,180 | $45.76 |
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 | $6,954.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,477.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,209.62 |
| Weekly | $1,604.81 |
| Hourly | $40.12 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $98,750 | n/a |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $97,820 | 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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketer | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $36,160 | $17.39 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $37,670 | $18.11 |
| Retail Salesperson | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| Cashier | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $67,040 | $32.23 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $61,140 | $29.40 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $47,800 | $22.98 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $65,510 | $31.50 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $126,830 | $60.97 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $65,670 | $31.57 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $98,590 | $47.40 |
| Parts Salesperson | $48,850 | $23.49 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $38,920 | $18.71 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for sales engineers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $83,450 a year, or $40.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sales engineers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of sales engineers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $136,590 a year. The top 25% earn $89,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for sales engineers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,770 a year, and a quarter of sales engineers earn $83,450 or less.
How many sales engineers work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 160 sales engineers are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.