Sales Engineer salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Sales Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $153,410 a year ($73.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $102,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,620 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $124,900. There are 0.32 sales engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $147,880, close to the median.
Pay range for sales engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $102,490 | $49.27 |
| 25th percentile | $132,240 | $63.58 |
| Median | $153,410 | $73.76 |
| 75th percentile | $153,410 | $73.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,620 | $90.68 |
| Average (mean) | $147,880 | $71.10 |
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 | $12,784.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,392.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,900.38 |
| Weekly | $2,950.19 |
| Hourly | $73.76 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $153,410 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $122,690 | 120 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $102,340 | 670 |
| Roanoke, VA | $102,010 | 90 |
| Richmond, VA | $101,210 | n/a |
| Lynchburg, VA | $97,540 | 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 |
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $78,160 | $37.58 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $39,900 | $19.18 |
| Telemarketer | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $43,500 | $20.91 |
| Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | $35,590 | $17.11 |
| Model | $47,170 | $22.68 |
| Real Estate Broker | $87,670 | $42.15 |
| Retail Salesperson | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Cashier | $35,470 | $17.05 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $78,110 | $37.55 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $50,530 | $24.29 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $64,300 | $30.91 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $74,730 | $35.93 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $48,010 | $23.08 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for sales engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $153,410 a year, or $73.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $102,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sales engineers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of sales engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $188,620 a year. The top 25% earn $153,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for sales engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $102,490 a year, and a quarter of sales engineers earn $132,240 or less.
How many sales engineers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 1,010 sales engineers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.