Average salary, compensation, and wages for Sales engineers in the United States


Compensation varies significantly by the type of firm and product sold. Most employers use a combination of salary and commission or salary plus bonus. Commissions usually are based on the amount of sales, whereas bonuses may depend on individual performance, on the performance of all sales workers in the group or district, or on the company�s performance. Earnings from commissions and bonuses may vary greatly from year to year, depending on sales ability, the demand for the company�s products or services, and the overall economy.

Median annual earnings of sales engineers, including commissions, were $63,660 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $48,650 and $84,880 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,430, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $108,080 a year. Median annual earnings of sales engineers in the computer systems design and related services industry in 2002 were $77,100; earnings for sales engineers in the professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers industry were $53,170.

In addition to their earnings, sales engineers who work for manufacturers are usually reimbursed for expenses such as transportation, meals, hotels, and customer entertainment. In addition to typical benefits, sales engineers often get personal use of a company car and frequent-flyer mileage. Some companies offer incentives such as free vacation trips or gifts for outstanding performance. Sales engineers who work in independent firms may have higher but less stable earnings and, often, relatively few benefits.




More information on Sales engineers from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
Overview of Sales engineers occupation
Number of Sales engineers in the U.S.
Salary and earnings for Sales engineers
Working conditions for Sales engineers
Significant points for Sales engineers
Training requirements for Sales engineers




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