Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The national median tells one story. The city-level data tells a dozen. The national median salary for Technical Support Engineers in 2026 is $83,800, with entry-level positions averaging $60,336 and senior roles reaching $118,996. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $152,640, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Technology within the broader Technology industry, Technical Support Engineers typically hold Bachelor's in IT. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is hybrid. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$92,880 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Technical Support Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $152,640 — $92,880 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($59,760). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The salary distribution for Technical Support Engineers reveals a $58,660 spread from entry to senior. At $83,800, the median sits $3,433 above the national median household income of $80,367. That's a strong baseline — and it only includes individual earnings, not household. The P10 floor of $60,336 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $118,996 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $142,560, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $60,240. The $82,320 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Technical Support Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $152,640 — $92,880 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($59,760). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Technical Support Engineer is $60,336, while senior-level (P90) earners average $118,996. That $58,660 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Technical Support Engineers average $60,336 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $60,336 | $83,800 | $118,996 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £36,178 | £50,247 | £71,351 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$46,896 | CA$65,133 | CA$92,489 |
| Australia | 13 | A$54,357 | A$75,496 | A$107,204 |
| Sweden | 24 | 342,397 kr | 475,552 kr | 675,283 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $72,822 | $101,142 | $143,622 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $70,373 | $97,740 | $138,791 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $69,984 | $97,200 | $138,024 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $64,800 | $90,000 | $127,800 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $64,022 | $88,920 | $126,266 |
| Washington | 8 | $62,791 | $87,210 | $123,838 |
| New York | 5 | $59,097 | $82,080 | $116,553 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $59,098 | $82,080 | $116,554 |
| Florida | 22 | $58,650 | $81,458 | $115,671 |
| Colorado | 11 | $57,637 | $80,051 | $113,672 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $57,542 | $79,920 | $113,486 |
| Nevada | 5 | $57,439 | $79,776 | $113,282 |
| Arizona | 12 | $57,154 | $79,380 | $112,720 |
| Oregon | 5 | $57,024 | $79,200 | $112,464 |
| Idaho | 3 | $56,851 | $78,960 | $112,123 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $56,402 | $78,336 | $111,237 |
| Utah | 4 | $56,246 | $78,120 | $110,930 |
| Virginia | 7 | $55,321 | $76,834 | $109,105 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $54,605 | $75,840 | $107,693 |
| Alaska | 1 | $54,432 | $75,600 | $107,352 |
| Illinois | 5 | $53,810 | $74,736 | $106,125 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $52,474 | $72,880 | $103,490 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $51,840 | $72,000 | $102,240 |
| Montana | 1 | $51,840 | $72,000 | $102,240 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $51,667 | $71,760 | $101,899 |
| Texas | 40 | $51,412 | $71,406 | $101,397 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $51,322 | $71,280 | $101,218 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $51,063 | $70,920 | $100,707 |
| Georgia | 6 | $50,890 | $70,680 | $100,366 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $50,803 | $70,560 | $100,195 |
| Kansas | 4 | $50,544 | $70,200 | $99,684 |
| Michigan | 6 | $50,371 | $69,960 | $99,343 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $49,767 | $69,120 | $98,151 |
| Maryland | 1 | $49,766 | $69,120 | $98,150 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $49,248 | $68,400 | $97,128 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $49,248 | $68,400 | $97,128 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $47,952 | $66,600 | $94,572 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $47,693 | $66,240 | $94,061 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $47,045 | $65,340 | $92,783 |
| Missouri | 4 | $47,045 | $65,340 | $92,783 |
| Alabama | 5 | $46,864 | $65,088 | $92,425 |
| Indiana | 3 | $46,138 | $64,080 | $90,994 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $46,138 | $64,080 | $90,994 |
| Iowa | 2 | $45,619 | $63,360 | $89,971 |
| Ohio | 6 | $45,533 | $63,240 | $89,801 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $43,546 | $60,480 | $85,882 |
The state salary map for Technical Support Engineers: California at $101,142, Massachusetts at $97,740, Hawaii at $97,200 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($60,480), Ohio ($63,240), Iowa ($63,360) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $40,662.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($152,640 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $72,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $152,640 | 212 | $72,000 | $90,986 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $142,560 | 198 | $72,000 | $85,437 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $132,480 | 184 | $72,000 | $79,888 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $130,320 | 181 | $72,000 | $78,699 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $128,160 | 178 | $72,000 | $77,510 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $127,440 | 177 | $72,000 | $77,113 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $127,440 | 177 | $72,000 | $77,113 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $124,560 | 173 | $72,000 | $75,528 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $124,560 | 173 | $72,000 | $75,528 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $121,680 | 169 | $72,000 | $73,942 |
From a career planning perspective, Technical Support Engineer offers a $58,660 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's in IT. Day-to-day, expect hybrid work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Technical Support Engineers is $83,800 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $60,336, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $118,996.
The highest-paying city for Technical Support Engineers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $152,640. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($152,640), Santa Clara ($142,560), Irvine ($132,480). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Technical Support Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $59,760. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Technical Support Engineers (10th percentile) average $60,336 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $109,901. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Technical Support Engineers average $118,996 nationally — $58,660 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Technical Support Engineers can earn up to $216,749.
The top-paying states for Technical Support Engineers are California ($101,142 median), Massachusetts ($97,740 median), Hawaii ($97,200 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Technical Support Engineer involves Bachelor's in IT. The field is in the Technology sector (Technology), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $83,800 and representation across 288 metro areas, Technical Support Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $58,660 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.