AI/GenAI Sales Engineer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$122,000
national median salary
$86,000 to $165,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $124,900 for Sales Engineers (SOC 41-9031) across the United States, based on 51,790 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$73,870
25th percentile
$92,890
Median
$124,900
75th percentile
$161,230
90th percentile
$195,270
Workers surveyed
51,790
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$121,520
May 2025 release
$124,900
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Sales Engineers (SOC 41-9031) rather than AI/GenAI Sales Engineerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 41-9031Highest Paying
$170,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$127,000
Washington DC, DC
Lowest Paying
$96,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 41-9031. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average AI/GenAI Sales Engineer salary in the United States at $122,000 in 2026, within a range of $86,000 to $165,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $170,000, while Washington DC offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Ability to demonstrate AI products to technical buyers, build custom proof of concept integrations, and translate business requirements into AI solutions drives compensation.
AI/GenAI Sales Engineer salary by city.
Skills that increase AI/GenAI Sales Engineer pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for AI/GenAI Sales Engineers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $17,080 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$17,080 per year
≈ +$15,860 per year
≈ +$14,640 per year
≈ +$13,420 per year
≈ +$12,200 per year
≈ +$12,200 per year
≈ +$12,200 per year
≈ +$10,980 per year
What you should know.
Ability to demonstrate AI products to technical buyers, build custom proof of concept integrations, and translate business requirements into AI solutions drives compensation. Engineers who combine deep AI knowledge with consultative selling skills are rare. Experience closing enterprise deals in regulated industries and managing technical evaluations adds significant premiums.
Junior AI sales engineers start at $100,000 to $130,000 with variable pay. Mid level engineers with deal closure experience earn $145,000 to $185,000 base. Senior sales engineers reach $185,000 to $240,000 base. Directors of solutions engineering at AI companies can exceed $350,000 in total compensation.
Variable compensation through commissions can add 30 to 60% of base salary. Equity at AI startups adds 15 to 30% of total compensation. Signing bonuses of $15,000 to $40,000 are common. Benefits often include travel budgets and demo environment credits.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote AI/GenAI Sales Engineers typically earn $113,000 (7% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
Are you an AI/GenAI Sales Engineer?
Share your real compensation anonymously. Help build the most accurate salary dataset for this role. Your data is never individually exposed.
Common questions about AI/GenAI Sales Engineer pay.
Related tools