Sales Engineer Salary in Houston, TX
Sales Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $127,800 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $98,617 take-home, or $8,218 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sales engineer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,406
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,924
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,853
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$98,617
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Sales Engineer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,280 | $38.12 | $64,603 | $5,384 |
| 25th percentile | $96,200 | $46.25 | $76,507 | $6,376 |
| Median (50th) | $127,800 | $61.44 | $98,617 | $8,218 |
| 75th percentile | $162,100 | $77.93 | $122,061 | $10,172 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $203,590 | $97.88 | $151,571 | $12,631 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $127,800 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sales engineer's $98,617 take-home pay has the buying power of $99,988 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.2× the national concentration of sales engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for sales engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #4 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 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 23 metros →
Sales Engineer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Austin, TX — $137,960
- Dallas, TX — $133,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sales engineer make in Houston, TX?
The median sales engineer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $127,800 a year, or about $61.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $96,200 and $162,100.
What is a sales engineer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $127,800 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $98,617 a year ($8,218 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a sales engineer?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $124,900. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $99,988 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #4 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sales engineer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median sales engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $100,980
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $77,550
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $76,360
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $73,030
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $63,090
- Advertising Sales Agent — $58,600
- Travel Agent — $50,160
- Real Estate Sales Agent — $49,250
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,970
- Insurance Sales Agent — $46,460
- Sales and Related Workers, All Other — $38,820
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $37,710