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Continuous Improvement Specialist III Salary in the United States

How much does a Continuous Improvement Specialist III make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Continuous Improvement Specialist III in the United States is $116,360 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $56.

However, a Continuous Improvement Specialist III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $136,133
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $105,800 to $126,710
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $96,186
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View as table View as graph 25% $105,800 10% $96,186 90% $136,133 75% $126,710 $116,360 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Continuous Improvement Specialist III Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $126,710 $10,559 $2,437 $61
Average $116,360 $9,697 $2,238 $56
25th Percentile $105,800 $8,817 $2,035 $51
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Key Factors That Influence Continuous Improvement Specialist III Salaries

A Continuous Improvement 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.

How Experience Level Affects Continuous Improvement Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Continuous Improvement 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:

  • Continuous Improvement Specialist I (0-2 years): $70,626
  • Continuous Improvement Specialist II (2-4 years): $93,682
  • Continuous Improvement Specialist III (4-7 years): $116,353
  • Continuous Improvement Specialist IV (7+ years): $127,656
  • Continuous Improvement Specialist V (7-10 years): $142,839
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Continuous Improvement Specialist I0-2 years$70,626
Continuous Improvement Specialist II2-4 years$93,682
Continuous Improvement Specialist III4-7 years$116,353
Continuous Improvement Specialist IV7+ years$127,656
Continuous Improvement Specialist V7-10 years$142,839
$70,626 Continuou...
$93,682 Continuou...
$116,353 Continuou...
$127,656 Continuou...
$142,839 Continuou...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Continuous Improvement Specialist IIIs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $146,760
  • San Francisco: $145,320
  • Oakland: $142,100

What Skills Can Increase a Continuous Improvement Specialist III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Problem Solving (Mentioned in 4.65% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • Lean Six Sigma (Mentioned in 2.29% Job Postings): Applying the methods of Lean Six Sigma in reducing variation, waste, and cycle time to achieve customer satisfaction and bottom-line results.
  • Change Management (Mentioned in 0.99% Job Postings): Change management (sometimes abbreviated as CM) is a collective term for all approaches to prepare , support and help individuals, teams, and organizations in making organizational change. The most common change drivers include: technological evolution, process reviews, crisis, and consumer habit changes; pressure from new business entrants, acquisitions, mergers, and organizational restructuring. It includes methods that redirect or redefine the use of resources, business process, budget allocations, or other modes of operation that significantly change a company or organization. Organizational change management (OCM) considers the full organization and what needs to change, while change management may be used solely to refer to how people and teams are affected by such organizational transition. It deals with many different disciplines, from behavioral and social sciences to information technology and business solutions.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Problem Solving 4.65%
Lean Six Sigma 2.29%
Change Management 0.99%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Continuous Improvement Specialist III's salary.
  • Oral Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • KPI: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Cost Reduction: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Oral Communication
$121,014
4%
KPI
$119,851
3%
Cost Reduction
$118,687
2%
Visual Management
$118,687
2%
Change Management
$118,687
2%
Operating System
$118,687
2%
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Continuous Improvement Specialist III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Continuous Improvement 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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Continuous Improvement Specialist III Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Continuous Improvement Specialist III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Continuous Improvement Specialist IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $127,700 - a projected growth of 10% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Continuous Improvement Specialist III

Salaries for a Continuous Improvement Specialist III can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $90,243 in 2023 to around $89,094 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Continuous Improvement Specialist III salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Continuous Improvement Specialist III Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$90,243
2024
$89,847
2025
$89,094
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $90,243
2024 $89,847
2025 $89,094
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Continuous Improvement Specialist III

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Continuous Improvement Specialist III

Here are companies hiring for Continuous Improvement Specialist III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Continuous Improvement Specialist III job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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FAQ about Continuous Improvement Specialist III

1. What are the disadvantages of continuous improvement?

Common barriers to successful continuous improvement programs include lack of support and leadership from upper management, insufficient professional development or training, poor prioritization, inadequate process management tools, and low employee engagement. These challenges can hinder the effectiveness of initiatives, impacting overall performance and potentially affecting salaries, which range from $99,680 to $127,420 for a Sr. Continuous Improvement Specialist.

2. Is continuous improvement a good career path?

Continuous Improvement is a promising career path, offering strong growth potential. As professionals gain experience, they can progress to roles like Senior Continuous Improvement Manager or Continuous Improvement Director. Salaries in this field range from $99,680 to $127,420, with a median of $113,800, reflecting the value of expertise in driving organizational efficiency.

3. What does a CI leader do?

A Continuous Improvement (CI) leader plays a crucial role in identifying issues, bottlenecks, and inefficiencies within processes. They collaborate with their teams to enhance workflow, improve process performance, and set standards for consistent results. The salary for a Sr. Continuous Improvement Specialist ranges from $99,680 to $127,420, with a midpoint of $113,800.

4. What is the highest DevOps engineer salary in us?

The highest salary for a Sr. Continuous Improvement Specialist ranges from $99,680 to $127,420, with a midpoint of $113,800. In comparison, top DevOps engineer salaries in the U.S. can reach up to $166,758 in cities like Palo Alto, CA, and around $139,073 in New York, NY, indicating a competitive landscape for tech roles.

5. Who is the highest paid engineer in the United States?

The highest-paid engineering careers include Petroleum Engineers with a median annual salary of $137,322 and Aerospace Engineers at $118,602. In comparison, a Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist earns between $99,680 and $127,420, with a mid-salary of $113,800, highlighting the competitive nature of engineering salaries across various specializations.

6. How much does a senior specialist earn in the US?

As of now, the salary range for a Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist in the United States is between $99,680 and $127,420 annually, with a median salary of $113,800. This translates to approximately $47.92 to $61.24 per hour, or $1,913 to $2,653 per week.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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