Sales engineers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Sales engineers in the United States earn a median salary of $124,900 per year — about $60 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 57K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +5%.
AI & Automation Risk
Sales engineers perform high-level knowledge work that is increasingly digital, including technical presentations, product customization, and troubleshooting. While AI can automate technical documentation, demo generation, and data-driven customer insights, the role's heavy reliance on complex interpersonal relationships, negotiation, and trust-building provides a significant buffer against full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NCBEST VALUE | $175,310 | Average (97.3) | $180,088 |
| Ocala, FL | $158,190 | Below avg (95.8) | $165,125 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $177,490 | Above avg (113.1) | $156,989 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $151,450 | Average (97.3) | $155,640 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $163,810 | Above avg (111.0) | $147,549 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $133,010 | Below avg (91.2) | $145,854 |
| Midland, TX | $138,930 | Below avg (95.4) | $145,655 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $136,260 | Below avg (93.6) | $145,535 |
| Odessa, TX | $134,740 | Below avg (92.6) | $145,448 |
| Greeley, CO | $138,420 | Below avg (96.6) | $143,228 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $147,130 | Above avg (104.2) | $141,171 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $137,960 | Average (98.3) | $140,380 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $153,410 | Above avg (109.5) | $140,045 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $125,630 | Below avg (90.1) | $139,448 |
| Lafayette, LA | $121,680 | Below avg (87.6) | $138,979 |