Sales Engineers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $214,250 or more. The middle half of sales engineers in Columbia earn between $95,260 and $171,970.
- $62K10th
- $95K25th
- $109KMedian
- $172K75th
- $214K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $132,910 | $11,076 | $63.90 |
| Median | $108,830 | $9,069 | $52.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $95,260 | $7,938 | $45.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $171,970 | $14,331 | $82.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sales Engineers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Sales engineers in Columbia earn 10% more than the South Carolina average ($120,430) and about the same as the U.S. average ($130,140). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $124,900.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $132,910 | $108,830 | $62,000 | $214,250 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $120,430 | $114,250 | $78,540 | $172,850 | 770 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $132,910, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $96,151 a year, or $8,013 a month and $3,698 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for sales engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $132,910 buys what about $141,904 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 1.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Sales Engineers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 4 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($138,970).
- Charleston$138,970
- Columbia$132,910
- Greenville$109,790
- Spartanburg$97,020
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 Columbia: questions
How much do sales engineers make an hour in Columbia?
$63.90 an hour on average, and $52.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sales engineers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $95,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sales engineers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $96,151 a year ($8,013 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $132,910.
Do sales engineers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.