Role benchmark · 2026
Solutions engineer salary guide
Solutions engineer and sales engineer are near-interchangeable titles in most US org charts — but the pay is not identical everywhere, and the gap moves with the sector.
Updated July 2026
Median base
$120k
Range $95k–$160k
Median OTE
$168k
Range $132k–$228k
Typical split
70/30
Base / variable at 100% attainment
Top decile OTE
$240k+
90th percentile
Budget a solutions engineer at roughly the same level as a sales engineer of equivalent seniority. Where the two diverge is scope: solutions engineering titles skew toward architecture-heavy, multi-product platforms, which is why cloud and AI employers price them slightly above the SE line.
Pay by seniority
Bars show OTE at 100% attainment; the thinner bar beneath is fixed base.
- Associate / Junior SE$118k / $88k base
Owning technical deals solo without oversight. Typically 0–2 years of experience.
- Sales Engineer (mid)$170k / $122k base
Consistent technical wins on larger, complex deals. Typically 3–5 years of experience.
- Senior SE$205k / $148k base
Strategic accounts, mentoring, leading multi-week PoCs. Typically 6–9 years of experience.
- Principal / Staff SE$245k / $172k base
Org-wide technical influence (IC leadership track). Typically 10+ years of experience.
- SE Manager$270k / $185k base
People leadership + team quota ownership. Typically 8+ years of experience.
By location
Median OTE by metro market.
- SF Bay Area$215k
- New York$198k
- Seattle$195k
- Austin$178k
- Remote (US)$175k
- National$182k
By industry
Median OTE by sector.
- Cybersecurity$210k
- AI / ML$205k
- Cloud / DevOps$190k
- Enterprise SaaS$178k
- Hardware / Networking$165k
Compensation split
How the package is typically constructed at this level.
On a $168k package that's roughly $118k fixed and $50k variable.
Based on our placement data
Which title pays more — and where
Paired offers at the same companies show the title premium flipping by sector. In SaaS the sales engineer title still edges ahead; in cloud and AI the solutions engineer title carries the premium.
| Sector | Sales engineer OTE | Solutions engineer OTE | Who pays more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise SaaS | $170k | $165k | Sales engineer |
| Cloud / DevOps | $180k | $188k | Solutions engineer |
| AI / ML | $188k | $196k | Solutions engineer |
| Cybersecurity | $200k | $198k | Sales engineer |
Practical takeaway: if you're hiring architecture-led pre-sales for a cloud or AI platform, title the role solutions engineer and price it above your SE band, or expect to lose candidates at offer stage.
Based on our placement data — illustrative placeholder figures.
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Methodology
Figures are medians drawn from placement records, offer letters and employer briefs across the last 12 months, expressed as 25th–75th percentile ranges. Base is fixed cash; OTE is base plus variable at 100% attainment, excluding equity. All numbers currently shown are illustrative placeholders. Read the full methodology.