As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Accounts Payable Specialist III in the United States is $68,700 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.
However, an Accounts Payable Specialist III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Accounts Payable Specialist III Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $75,200 | $6,267 | $1,446 | $36 |
| Average | $68,700 | $5,725 | $1,321 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,600 | $5,133 | $1,185 | $30 |
An Accounts Payable Specialist III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Accounts Payable Specialist III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts Payable Specialist I | 0-2 years | $55,296 |
| AP Analyst II | 2-4 years | $61,886 |
| Accounts Payable Specialist III | 4-7 years | $68,646 |
| AP Operations Supervisor | 7+ years | $73,033 |
| AP Operations Senior Supervisor | 7+ years | $89,338 |
Accounts Payable Specialist III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $76,775. While startup companies pay approximate $64,944.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $64,944 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $68,685 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $74,136 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $76,775 |
Understanding how an Accounts Payable Specialist III's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $75,200 | $6,267 | $1,446 | $36 |
| Average | $68,700 | $5,725 | $1,321 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,600 | $5,133 | $1,185 | $30 |
Next Role
Advancement
For an Accounts Payable Specialist III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the AP Operations Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $73,100 - a projected growth of 6% over your current level.
Salaries for an Accounts Payable Specialist III can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary from $80,806 in 2023 to around $80,806 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Accounts Payable Specialist III salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2023 | View More |
| 2024 | $80,806 |
| 2025 |
View More
|
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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The Telecom industry offers the highest average compensation for Accounts Payable Specialist III roles, with salaries approximately 14% above the market median.
If your accounts receivable balance is higher than your accounts payable balance, it indicates that more customers owe you money than you owe suppliers, leading to a healthier cash flow. For an Accounts Payable Specialist, salaries range from $63,500 to $86,700, with a midpoint of $73,900, reflecting the importance of managing outgoing cash effectively.
The role of an Accounts Payable Specialist III involves recording and processing payments for vendor invoices per internal accounting policies, overseeing payment schedules, and maintaining the accounts payable ledger. This position ensures accurate and timely payments, with a salary range from $63,500 to $86,700, averaging around $73,900.
The accounts payable 3-way match is a process of verifying an invoice by comparing the information on the invoice, the purchase order, and the receiving report to ensure they match before issuing payment. Accounts Payable Specialists typically earn between $63,500 and $86,700, with a median salary of $73,900.
Accounts Payable Specialists in the US earn between $63,500 and $86,700 annually, with a median salary of $73,900. This translates to an hourly wage ranging from approximately $30.57 to $41.67, depending on experience and location.
The role of an Accounts Payable Specialist can indeed be stressful, primarily due to the responsibility of ensuring timely payments of invoices. Missing a payment deadline may result in late fees, altered terms, or damaged vendor relationships. However, with a salary range of $63,500 to $86,700, the compensation reflects the importance and challenges of the position.
Compared to an AP specialist, who typically earns between $63,500 and $86,700, an accounts payable clerk generally focuses on more routine tasks such as data entry, invoice processing, and organizing paperwork. The key difference lies in the level of experience, skills, and responsibilities, with specialists taking on more complex duties.
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