Sales Engineer salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Sales Engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $175,310 a year ($84.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $88,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $290,910 for the top 10%. That is 40% higher than the national median of $124,900. Pay here is 44% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $121,530. There are 0.96 sales engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $183,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sales engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $88,710 | $42.65 |
| 25th percentile | $133,640 | $64.25 |
| Median | $175,310 | $84.29 |
| 75th percentile | $215,730 | $103.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $290,910 | $139.86 |
| Average (mean) | $183,510 | $88.23 |
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 | $14,609.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,304.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,742.69 |
| Weekly | $3,371.35 |
| Hourly | $84.29 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $129,520 | 570 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $121,100 | 40 |
| Wilmington, NC | $114,170 | 60 |
| Asheville, NC | $111,250 | 60 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $110,610 | 800 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $109,760 | 60 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $106,130 | 130 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Real Estate Broker | $124,210 | $59.72 |
| Retail Salesperson | $31,790 | $15.28 |
| Cashier | $29,920 | $14.39 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $72,460 | $34.84 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $131,120 | $63.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $48,720 | $23.42 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $70,870 | $34.07 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $102,300 | $49.19 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $59,120 | $28.42 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for sales engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $175,310 a year, or $84.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $88,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $290,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sales engineers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of sales engineers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $290,910 a year. The top 25% earn $215,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for sales engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $88,710 a year, and a quarter of sales engineers earn $133,640 or less.
How many sales engineers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 330 sales engineers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.