Sales Engineer salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Sales Engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $177,490 a year ($85.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $100,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $242,520 for the top 10%. That is 42% higher than the national median of $124,900. Pay here is 28% higher than the California statewide median of $139,160. There are 1.4 sales engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $180,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sales engineers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $100,830 | $48.48 |
| 25th percentile | $141,930 | $68.23 |
| Median | $177,490 | $85.33 |
| 75th percentile | $209,730 | $100.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $242,520 | $116.60 |
| Average (mean) | $180,170 | $86.62 |
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 | $14,790.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,395.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,826.54 |
| Weekly | $3,413.27 |
| Hourly | $85.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $177,490 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 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 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $122,610 | 360 |
| 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $73,250 | $35.22 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| Telemarketer | $43,740 | $21.03 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $96,170 | $46.24 |
| Retail Salesperson | $44,220 | $21.26 |
| Cashier | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $116,510 | $56.01 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $103,670 | $49.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $100,030 | $48.09 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $167,630 | $80.59 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $84,800 | $40.77 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for sales engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $177,490 a year, or $85.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $100,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $242,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sales engineers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of sales engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $242,520 a year. The top 25% earn $209,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for sales engineers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $100,830 a year, and a quarter of sales engineers earn $141,930 or less.
How many sales engineers work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 1,600 sales engineers are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.