Sales Engineer salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Sales Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $122,610 a year ($58.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 360 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $186,590 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $124,900. Pay here is 12% lower than the California statewide median of $139,160. There are 0.23 sales engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $127,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sales engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,350 | $36.71 |
| 25th percentile | $92,320 | $44.38 |
| Median | $122,610 | $58.95 |
| 75th percentile | $152,650 | $73.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $186,590 | $89.71 |
| Average (mean) | $127,090 | $61.10 |
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 | $10,217.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,108.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,715.77 |
| Weekly | $2,357.88 |
| Hourly | $58.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $122,610 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Sales Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $177,490 | 1,600 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $163,810 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $151,610 | 930 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $143,970 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $138,560 | 220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $133,380 | 1,770 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $132,510 | 40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $126,310 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $111,160 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $105,040 | 170 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $97,800 | 50 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $47,810 | $22.99 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $62,680 | $30.13 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Telemarketer | $39,970 | $19.22 |
| Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | $42,910 | $20.63 |
| Real Estate Broker | $80,450 | $38.68 |
| Retail Salesperson | $37,810 | $18.18 |
| Cashier | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $74,610 | $35.87 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $56,300 | $27.07 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $76,100 | $36.59 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $42,600 | $20.48 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $76,180 | $36.62 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $77,020 | $37.03 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for sales engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $122,610 a year, or $58.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $186,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sales engineers make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of sales engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $186,590 a year. The top 25% earn $152,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for sales engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,350 a year, and a quarter of sales engineers earn $92,320 or less.
How many sales engineers work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 360 sales engineers are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.