Sales Engineers Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $98,020 -19.3% vs national
Median hourly $47.13
10th percentile $75,650
90th percentile $165,050
Employed locally 940
National median $121,520

Compare Sales Engineers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Sales Engineers
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $75,650
    25th
    $86,900
    50th (median)
    $98,020
    75th
    $124,120
    90th
    $165,050

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Sales Engineers salary vs area income 110% Median Sales Engineers salary is 10% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Sales Engineers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $179,490
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $173,640
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $170,400
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $169,560
    Arizona $169,470
    Delaware $166,400

    Nearby metros — Sales Engineers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $170,400
    Knoxville, TN $163,270
    Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $138,200
    Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $135,740
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $134,260
    Killeen-Temple, TX $126,270

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Retail Salespersons $34,910
    Cashiers $33,680
    Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $65,060
    Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $69,080
    First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $48,530
    Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents $95,910

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Sales Engineers make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Sales Engineers in Chicago, IL-IN is $47.13, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $77.56 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Sales Engineers salaries?

    The median Sales Engineers salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 19.3% below the national median of $121,520. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Sales Engineers in Chicago?

    Entry-level Sales Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $75,650 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $86,900.