Sales Engineers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $161,330 or more. The middle half of sales engineers in Chicago earn between $91,250 and $136,550.
- $80K10th
- $91K25th
- $104KMedian
- $137K75th
- $161K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $113,830 | $9,486 | $54.73 |
| Median | $104,070 | $8,672 | $50.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $91,250 | $7,604 | $43.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $136,550 | $11,379 | $65.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sales Engineers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Sales engineers in Chicago earn 5% more than the Illinois average ($108,920) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($130,140). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $124,900.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $113,830 | $104,070 | $80,300 | $161,330 | 790 |
| Illinois | $108,920 | $99,710 | $74,570 | $162,590 | 1,150 |
| United States | $130,140 | $124,900 | $73,870 | $195,270 | 51,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sales Engineers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $113,830, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $83,416 a year, or $6,951 a month and $3,208 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $85,524 | $7,127 |
| Working in IL | $83,416 | $6,951 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for sales engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $113,830 buys what about $109,880 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Sales Engineers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$113,830
- Rockford$83,420
Highest-paying cities for sales engineers
Durham, NC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($183,510).
- Durham, NC$183,510
- San Jose, CA$180,170
- Ocala, FL$176,450
- San Luis Obispo, CA$172,040
- Sarasota, FL$167,860
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Sales Engineers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do sales engineers make an hour in Chicago?
$54.73 an hour on average, and $50.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sales engineers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $91,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sales engineers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $83,416 a year ($6,951 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $113,830.
Do sales engineers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($130,140).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 41-9031; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.52, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.52).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.