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Sales Engineer III Salary in the United States

How much does a Sales Engineer III make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Sales Engineer III in the United States is $113,724 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

However, a Sales Engineer III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $132,366
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $106,841 to $123,482
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $100,574
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Sales Engineer III Salaries

A Sales Engineer III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Sales Engineer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Sales Engineer III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Sales Engineer I (0-2 years): $82,329
  • Sales Engineer II (2-4 years): $96,715
  • Sales Engineer III (4-7 years): $113,724
  • Sales Engineer IV (7+ years): $141,320
  • Sales Engineer V (7-10 years): $167,963
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Sales Engineer I0-2 years$82,329
Sales Engineer II2-4 years$96,715
Sales Engineer III4-7 years$113,724
Sales Engineer IV7+ years$141,320
Sales Engineer V7-10 years$167,963
View as Graph

How Do Sales Engineer III Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Sales Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $125,915.
  • California: $125,438.
  • Massachusetts: $123,766.

Top Paying Cities for Sales Engineer IIIs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $143,440
  • San Francisco: $141,870
  • Oakland: $138,880

What Skills Can Increase a Sales Engineer III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 8.74% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Sales Engineering (Mentioned in 2.34% Job Postings): Sales engineering is a hybrid of sales and engineering that exists in industrial and commercial markets. Buying decisions in these markets are made differently than those in many consumer contexts, being based more on technical information and rational analysis and less on style, fashion, or impulse. Therefore, selling in these markets cannot depend on consumer-type sales methods alone, and instead it relies heavily on technical information and problem-solving to convince buyers that they should spend money on the seller's products or services, in order to meet a business need (that is, to satisfy a business case). A sales engineer is thus both "a salesperson that understands and can apply engineering" and "an engineer that understands how to sell engineered systems". They thus not only sell but also provide advice and support. They provide this service to various internal or external customers, and they may work for a manufacturer (servicing its industrial-account/business-to-business customers), for a distributor (which in turn services the industrial-account/business-to-business customers), or for a third party such as an engineering consultancy or a systems integrator.
  • AWS (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): Amazon Web Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 8.74%
Sales Engineering 2.34%
AWS 1.35%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Sales Engineer III's salary.

  • RFI: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • RFP: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
RFI $119,410
5%
RFP $119,410
5%
Computer Science $119,410
5%
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Sales Engineer III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Sales Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $127,091. While startup companies pay approximate $107,506.

Sales Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $107,506
Growth Stage 51~500 $113,699
Established 501~5000 $122,723
Enterprise 5000+ $127,091

Sales Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Sales Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 85% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Sales Engineer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Sales Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Sales Engineer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$159,214$77.040%
Biotechnology$147,841$71.030%
Financial Services$136,469$66.020%
Internet$127,371$61.012%
Energy & Utilities$125,096$60.010%

How Education impacts a Sales Engineer III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Sales Engineer III enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Sales Engineer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $112,316 and $119,961.

Sales Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Sales Engineer III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 4.8%
Associates 4.2%
Bachelors 63.3%
Masters 26.3%
Doctorate 1.0%
View as Graph

Sales Engineer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Sales Engineer III's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$106,841
Average $113,724/year
$123,482
$8,903
Average $9,477/month
$10,290
$2,055
Average $2,187/week
$2,375
$51
Average $55/hour
$59
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $123,482 $10,290 $2,375 $59
Average $113,724 $9,477 $2,187 $55
25th Percentile $106,841 $8,903 $2,055 $51

Sales Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Sales Engineer III

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Sales Engineer III, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Sales Engineer IV $141,320 24%
Solution Consultant IV $138,353 22%

Most common benefits for Sales Engineer III

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Sales Engineer III

Here are companies hiring for Sales Engineer III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Sales Engineer III

1. Where can a Sales Engineer III earn the most?

A Sales Engineer III's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Sales Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Sales Engineer III is $143,440.

2. What is the highest pay for Sales Engineer III?

The highest pay for Sales Engineer III is $132,366.

3. What is the lowest pay for Sales Engineer III?

The lowest pay for Sales Engineer III is $100,574.

4. What are the responsibilities of Sales Engineer III?

Uses technical knowledge of product offerings to advise and support sales teams with pricing estimates and implementation guidance based on customer requirements. Analyzes customers' technical specifications, recommends the best product configuration and installation process, and estimates implementation effort, time, and resources. Reviews sales proposals for accuracy, completeness, and quality. Develops and delivers technical product presentations used to engage customers and prospects and educate sales teams. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Sales Engineer III?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Sales Engineer III roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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