Sales Engineers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $290,910 or more. The middle half of sales engineers in Durham earn between $133,640 and $215,730.
- $89K10th
- $134K25th
- $175KMedian
- $216K75th
- $291K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $183,510 | $15,292 | $88.23 |
| Median | $175,310 | $14,609 | $84.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $133,640 | $11,137 | $64.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $215,730 | $17,978 | $103.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sales Engineers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Sales engineers in Durham earn 35% more than the North Carolina average ($136,010) and 41% more than the U.S. average ($130,140). At the median the gap is +40% against the U.S. median of $124,900.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $183,510 | $175,310 | $88,710 | $290,910 | 330 |
| North Carolina | $136,010 | $121,530 | $73,070 | $216,580 | 2,530 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $183,510, a single filer in Durham takes home about $129,882 a year, or $10,823 a month and $4,995 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for sales engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $183,510 buys what about $188,076 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 2.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Sales Engineers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 8 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Durham$183,510
- Raleigh$149,970
- Winston-Salem$137,890
- Wilmington$126,400
- Charlotte$123,040
- Hickory$119,290
- Asheville$117,610
- Greensboro$117,220
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
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Sales Engineers salary in Durham: questions
How much do sales engineers make an hour in Durham?
$88.23 an hour on average, and $84.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sales engineers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $133,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sales engineers take-home pay in Durham?
About $129,882 a year ($10,823 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $183,510.
Do sales engineers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 41% more 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.88, this job is 2.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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