Sales Engineers earn a median of $124,900 per year ($60.05/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 2.8% through 2035, with about 3,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 41-9031
- Sales and Related
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Sales Engineer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $124,900a year, or $60.05/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $74KTop 10% $195K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.8%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,80051,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202551.6K
- Projected 203553K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 51.6K Projected 2035 53K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Some college6%
- Associate's11.5%
- Bachelor's57.3%
- Master's25.2%
Highest education held by sales engineers Segment Value Some college 6% Associate's 11.5% Bachelor's 57.3% Master's 25.2%
Also advertised as: Business Development Engineer, Inside Sales Engineer, Product Sales Engineer, Sales Applications Engineer, Sales Engineer, Technical Marketing Engineer.
Pay
How much do Sales Engineers make?
Every sales engineer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$124,900
Middle half earn $92,890 to $161,230
- 10th
- $73,870
- 25th
- $92,890
- 75th
- $161,230
- 90th
- $195,270
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $73,870 |
| 25th | $92,890 |
| Median | $124,900 |
| 75th | $161,230 |
| 90th | $195,270 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $124,900
- Median hourly wage
- $60.05/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $130,140
- People employed
- 51,790
Versus all US occupations
At $124,900, Sales Engineers earn 145% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $73,920 a year.
Versus sales and related occupations
Inside the Sales and Related group, where the middle occupation pays $73,220, this is 71% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $195,270 or more while the bottom 10% earn $73,870, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 86% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Delaware pays the most at $167,200, and still leads at $167,522 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Sales Engineers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Delaware | $167,200 | $167,522 | 80 |
| 2Maryland | $153,410 | $146,162 | 850 |
| 3Rhode Island | $149,750 | $146,412 | 30 |
| 4Washington | $147,620 | $137,946 | 760 |
| 5Colorado | $139,990 | $135,844 | 2,800 |
| 6California | $139,160 | $125,686 | 6,310 |
| 7New Jersey | $139,010 | $127,761 | 1,760 |
| 8New York | $137,480 | $127,389 | 3,150 |
| 9Massachusetts | $136,200 | $128,786 | 3,150 |
| 10West Virginia | $135,260 | $151,134 | 40 |
Job outlook
Is Sales Engineer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +2.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Sales Engineers | +2.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Sales Engineers to change 2.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,800 openings are projected each year, 7.4% of the 51,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Sales engineers are expected to be in demand to help promote an increasing number of technologically sophisticated products and services.
Employment growth is likely to be strong for sales engineers selling computer software and hardware. Strong industry growth is expected in computer systems design and related services, contributing to employment growth in the occupation.
However, as businesses increasingly integrate artificial intelligence (AI) tools into workflows, some sales engineer tasks, such as conducting market research, may become more efficient. Employment growth for these workers may be limited by advances in technology, including AI.
Getting in
How to become a Sales Engineer
To enter the occupation, sales engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree. They combine technical knowledge of the products or services they sell with strong interpersonal skills.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as sales engineers.
- Bachelor's Degree57.3%
- Master's Degree25.2%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree11.5%
- Some College Courses6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 57.3% |
| Master's Degree | 25.2% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 11.5% |
| Some College Courses | 6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Sales Engineer do?
Sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering.
Sales engineers sell business products or services, such as software or support, that require technical expertise.
Day-to-day tasks
- Keep informed on industry news and trends, products, services, competitors, relevant information about legacy, existing, and emerging technologies, and the latest product-line developments.
- Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements, to promote the sale of company products, and to provide sales support.
- Develop, present, or respond to proposals for specific customer requirements, including request for proposal responses and industry-specific solutions.
- Confer with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine system requirements.
- Research and identify potential customers for products or services.
- Document account activities, generate reports, and keep records of business transactions with customers and suppliers.
- Prepare and deliver technical presentations that explain products or services to customers and prospective customers.
- Visit prospective buyers at commercial, industrial, or other establishments to show samples or catalogs, and to inform them about product pricing, availability, and advantages.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most sales engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where sales engineers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Merchant wholesalers, durable goods22%
- Manufacturing21%
- Computer systems design and related services18%
- Software publishers6%
- Wholesale trade agents and brokers5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Merchant wholesalers, durable goods | 22% |
| Manufacturing | 21% |
| Computer systems design and related services | 18% |
| Software publishers | 6% |
| Wholesale trade agents and brokers | 5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Writing3.8
- Active Learning3.8
- Mathematics3.0
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Persuasion4.1
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Negotiation3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Service Orientation3.8
- Systems Analysis3.6
- Systems Evaluation3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Persuasion | 4.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Service Orientation | 3.8 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.6 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Application server software · in demand
- Cloud-based management software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Sales Engineer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Sales Engineer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising5.8
- Conventional4.5
- Investigative3.6
- Realistic3.4
- Social2.8
- Artistic1.8
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Sales Engineer
O*NET related occupations
- Sales and Related
Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product
$104,920median a year
Most earn $53K to $200K
+1.2%Bachelor's - Sales and Related
Sales Representative of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
$69,990median a year
Most earn $38K to $149K
+2.7%High school - Management
- Business and Financial Operations
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
More sales and related careers
Median annual pay, with sales engineers highlighted
- Sales Engineer$124,900
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product$104,920
- Real Estate Broker$73,220
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,080
- Insurance Sales Agent$62,280
- Real Estate Agent$52,830
- Travel Agent$50,160
- Retail Salesperson$35,410
- Cashier$32,880
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Sales Engineer | $124,900 |
| Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product | $104,920 |
| Real Estate Broker | $73,220 |
| Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $72,080 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $62,280 |
| Real Estate Agent | $52,830 |
| Travel Agent | $50,160 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,410 |
| Cashier | $32,880 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within sales engineer
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Sales Engineer appears on
Questions
Sales Engineer: frequently asked questions
How much do Sales Engineers make?
Sales Engineers earn a median of $124,900 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 145% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $60.05/hr. The middle half earn between $92,890 and $161,230. The top 10% earn $195,270 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Sales Engineer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Sales Engineers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 57.3% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Sales Engineer a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 2.8% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Sales Engineer do?
Sales engineers sell business products or services, such as software or support, that require technical expertise. A core O*NET task: keep informed on industry news and trends, products, services, competitors, relevant information about legacy, existing, and emerging technologies, and the latest product-line developments. Employers most often ask for Application server software, Cloud-based management software, Computer aided design CAD software.
Which states pay Sales Engineers the most?
The highest state medians for Sales Engineers are Delaware ($167,200), Maryland ($153,410), Rhode Island ($149,750) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Sales Engineer?
O*NET scores Sales Engineers highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.