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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a General Engineer III in Virginia is $111,590 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.
However, a General Engineer III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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General Engineer III Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $118,590 | $9,883 | $2,281 | $57 |
| Average | $111,590 | $9,299 | $2,146 | $54 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,090 | $8,674 | $2,002 | $50 |
Systems Application & Technologies Inc - Norfolk, VA
EMCOR Group - Arlington, VA
Alexton Incorporated - Lorton, VA
Invictus International Consulting, LLC - Alexandria, VA
A General Engineer 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 a General Engineer 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Engineer | 0-2 years | $80,218 |
| Intermediate Engineer | 2-4 years | $92,767 |
| General Engineer III | 4-7 years | $111,510 |
| Engineer - Specialist/Project Lead | 7+ years | $141,136 |
| Engineer - Expert/Consultant | 7-10 years | $162,960 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract General Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
General Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $124,919. While startup companies pay approximate $105,678.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $105,678 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $111,767 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $120,631 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $124,919 |
For General Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, General Engineer positions in Financial Services or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view General Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy & Utilities | $156,226 | $75.0 | 40% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $145,067 | $70.0 | 30% |
| Media | $136,140 | $65.0 | 22% |
| Healthcare | $133,908 | $64.0 | 20% |
| Retail & Wholesale | $129,444 | $62.0 | 16% |
Understanding how a General Engineer 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 | $118,590 | $9,883 | $2,281 | $57 |
| Average | $111,590 | $9,299 | $2,146 | $54 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,090 | $8,674 | $2,002 | $50 |
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a General Engineer III, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.
| Next Step Role | Estimate Salary | Projected Raise |
|---|---|---|
| Aviation Engineer IV | $141,200 | 27% |
| Aerospace Aviation Engineer IV | $141,140 | 26% |
| Engineer - Specialist/Project Lead | $141,200 | 27% |
| GNC Engineer IV | $136,500 | 22% |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current General Engineer III job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
A-TEK Inc.
Alexandria, VA
A-TEK Inc. | Alexandria, VA
Job Description. Job Description. Empower, Innovate, Impact. At Team A-TEK, we EMPOWER people to drive INNOVATION that IMPACTS mission. A-TEK operates at t... more
7 Days Ago
Framatome GmbH
Lynchburg, VA
Framatome GmbH | Lynchburg, VA
Operational Excellence Engineer IIILocationUS-VA-LynchburgID2026-2727CategoryPerformancePosition TypeFull-TimeLocation TypeOnsitePosted Salary RangeUSD $99... more
8 Days Ago
Solutions³ LLC
Arlington, VA
Solutions³ LLC | Arlington, VA
Job Description. Job Description. Title. Systems Engineer III. Description. . Solutions³ LLC is supporting a U.S. Government customer to provide support fo... more
8 Days Ago
System One
Springfield, VA
System One | Springfield, VA
Job Description. Job Description. Job Title. Cyber Security Engineer. Location. Springfield, VA. Work Model. On site. Position Type. 6 month contract to hi... more
8 Days Ago
ARSIEM
Arlington, VA
ARSIEM | Arlington, VA
Job Description. Job Description. About ARSIEM Corporation. At ARSIEM Corporation we are committed to fostering a proven and trusted partnership with our g... more
9 Days Ago
DirectViz Solutions, LLC
Virginia Beach, VA
DirectViz Solutions, LLC | Virginia Beach, VA
Job Description. Job Description. DirectViz Solutions (DVS) is a dynamic and rapidly growing government contractor committed to delivering innovative IT so... more
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