California ranks 9th of 43 states and D.C. for sales engineers pay, trailing top-paying District of Columbia ($179,490) by $44,500 — a 33% gap.
California employs roughly 12.3% of all sales engineers in the country (6,980 workers).
Salary Range: 10th to 90th Percentile
Full Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $79,600 | $38.27 |
| 25th percentile | $100,390 | $48.26 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $134,990 | $64.90 |
| 75th percentile | $173,640 | $83.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $211,490 | $101.68 |
| Mean (average) | $142,920 | $68.71 |
How California Compares
| State | Median Annual | vs. California |
|---|---|---|
| California (current) | $134,990 | n/a |
| District of Columbia | $179,490 | +33% |
| Arizona | $169,470 | +26% |
| Delaware | $166,400 | +23% |
| New Jersey | $145,410 | +8% |
| Tennessee | $144,030 | +7% |
| New York | $137,700 | +2% |
| Colorado | $136,080 | +1% |
| Virginia | $135,080 | +0% |
Showing top-paying states with available data. View all states →
Related Occupations in California
| Occupation | Median Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Art Directors | $133,930 | 12,540 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $133,580 | 7,570 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $136,500 | 68,800 |
| Data Scientists | $136,800 | 36,850 |
| Sales Managers | $132,440 | 108,120 |
| Computer Network Architects | $138,350 | 19,800 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Sales Engineers salary in California?
The mean sales engineers salary in California is $142,920 per year. The median (middle) salary is $134,990 per year.
What is the starting salary for a Sales Engineers in California?
Entry-level sales engineerss (10th percentile) in California typically earn around $79,600 per year. Workers at the 25th percentile earn approximately $100,390 per year.
What is the highest Sales Engineers salary in California?
Top earners (90th percentile) in this occupation in California make approximately $211,490 per year. Those in the 75th percentile earn around $173,640 per year.
How does the California Sales Engineers salary compare to the national average?
The median sales engineers salary in California is $134,990, which is +11% above national average of $121,520.