What is a good OTE for a Sales Engineer?
Updated October 17, 2026 · Based on 342 job postings · Methodology
A good OTE for a Sales Engineer in 2026 is about $180k (the median stated OTE across 171 current US postings); $204k or more puts an offer in the top quarter, and below $140k is the bottom quarter.
Sales Engineer pay distribution, US
| Postings | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTE (base + commission) | 171 | $140k | $180k | $204k | $238k |
| Base salary | 171 | $149k | $172k | $202k | $240k |
| All postings with pay | 342 | $144k | $180k | $204k | $238k |
Top-paying companies for Sales Engineers
Highest-paying open Sales Engineer roles
Related: Sales Engineer pay report · Highest-paying Sales Engineer jobs · What is OTE?
FAQ
How much do Sales Engineers make?
The median posted pay for Sales Engineers in the US is $180k (midpoint of the employer's range, 342 postings). Base-only postings have a median of $172k.
Is OTE the same as salary?
No. OTE (on-target earnings) is base salary plus the target commission or bonus you earn at 100% of quota. Only the base is guaranteed.
Where does this data come from?
Employer-posted pay ranges on 3,744 live sales job postings from public Greenhouse, Lever and Ashby job boards, refreshed daily by OTE Jobs.
Cite this: “According to OTE Jobs data, a good OTE for a Sales Engineer in 2026 is about $180k (the median stated OTE across 171 current US postings); $204k or more puts an offer in the top quarter, and below $140k is the bottom quarter.” Source: OTE Jobs (otejobs.com), October 17, 2026. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link to this page.