Sales Engineer Salary in Chicago, IL
Sales Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $104,070 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,037 take-home, or $6,420 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sales engineer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,065
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,452
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,509
- Illinois income tax$5,007
- Take-home pay$77,037
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Sales Engineer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,300 | $38.61 | $61,491 | $5,124 |
| 25th percentile | $91,250 | $43.87 | $68,652 | $5,721 |
| Median (50th) | $104,070 | $50.03 | $77,037 | $6,420 |
| 75th percentile | $136,550 | $65.65 | $97,983 | $8,165 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,330 | $77.56 | $113,694 | $9,475 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $104,070 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sales engineer's $77,037 take-home pay has the buying power of $74,363 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Sales Engineer jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.52), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for sales engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #21 of 23 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $137,960 | $105,562 | $107,643 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $177,490 | $117,996 | $106,858 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $153,560 | $116,224 | $104,581 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $127,800 | $98,617 | $99,988 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $133,280 | $102,363 | $99,295 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $153,410 | $106,050 | $97,398 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $135,050 | $100,405 | $97,183 |
| 8 | Raleigh, NC | $129,520 | $95,134 | $96,920 |
| 21 | Chicago, IL | $104,070 | $77,037 | $74,363 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 23 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sales engineer make in Chicago, IL?
The median sales engineer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $104,070 a year, or about $50.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $91,250 and $136,550.
What is a sales engineer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $104,070 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $77,037 a year ($6,420 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,007 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a sales engineer?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $124,900. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $74,363 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #21 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sales engineer afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median sales engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $112,150
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $100,760
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $91,070
- Advertising Sales Agent — $75,590
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $75,350
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $70,710
- Insurance Sales Agent — $69,240
- Real Estate Broker — $67,320
- Real Estate Sales Agent — $61,790
- Sales and Related Workers, All Other — $53,270
- Travel Agent — $49,160
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,900