Sales Engineer salary in Illinois
Sales Engineers in Illinois earn a median of $99,710 a year ($47.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $162,590 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $124,900. Illinois ranks 32nd of 44 states for sales engineers pay. There are 0.19 sales engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $108,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sales engineers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,570 | $35.85 |
| 25th percentile | $83,710 | $40.25 |
| Median | $99,710 | $47.94 |
| 75th percentile | $134,700 | $64.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,590 | $78.17 |
| Average (mean) | $108,920 | $52.37 |
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 | $8,309.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,154.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,835 |
| Weekly | $1,917.50 |
| Hourly | $47.94 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $104,070 | 790 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $102,910 | 340 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $50,960 | $24.50 |
| Real Estate Broker | $62,540 | $30.07 |
| Telemarketer | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Model | $53,280 | $25.62 |
| Cashier | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,370 | $17.00 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $66,900 | $32.17 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $73,510 | $35.34 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $99,840 | $48.00 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $64,280 | $30.90 |
| Parts Salesperson | $42,240 | $20.31 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for sales engineers in Illinois is $99,710 a year, or $47.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $162,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sales engineers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of sales engineers in Illinois earn at least $162,590 a year. The top 25% earn $134,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for sales engineers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,570 a year, and a quarter of sales engineers earn $83,710 or less.
How many sales engineers work in Illinois?
About 1,150 sales engineers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.