Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an MES Engineer III in Virginia is $104,400 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $50.
However, an MES Engineer III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
AI Onboarding
MES Engineer III Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $113,360 | $9,447 | $2,180 | $55 |
| Average | $104,400 | $8,700 | $2,008 | $50 |
| 25th Percentile | $95,470 | $7,956 | $1,836 | $46 |
Deltek, Inc. - Herndon, VA
Invictus International Consulting, LLC - Alexandria, VA
A-TEK Inc. - Alexandria, VA
Framatome GmbH - Lynchburg, VA
An MES 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 an MES 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Execution System Engineer I | 0-2 years | $88,061 |
| Manufacturing Execution System Engineer II | 2-4 years | $95,258 |
| MES Engineer III | 4-7 years | $104,397 |
| Manufacturing Execution System Engineer IV | 7+ years | $113,516 |
| Manufacturing Execution System Supervisor | 7+ years | $124,886 |
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 MES 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:
MES Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $117,314. While startup companies pay approximate $99,317.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $99,317 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $105,015 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $113,308 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $117,314 |
For MES Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, MES Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view MES Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemicals | $125,280 | $60.0 | 20% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $125,280 | $60.0 | 20% |
| Software & Networking | $125,280 | $60.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $120,060 | $58.0 | 15% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $114,840 | $55.0 | 10% |
Understanding how an MES 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 | $113,360 | $9,447 | $2,180 | $55 |
| Average | $104,400 | $8,700 | $2,008 | $50 |
| 25th Percentile | $95,470 | $7,956 | $1,836 | $46 |
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an MES 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Biologics Manufacturing Engineer IV | $133,700 | 28% |
| Manufacturing Execution System Engineer IV | $113,600 | 9% |
| Specialist/Lead Manufacturing Engineer | $126,800 | 21% |
| Manufacturing Production Engineer IV | $126,800 | 21% |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current MES Engineer III job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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
9 Days Ago
SimIS Inc.
Virginia Beach, VA
SimIS Inc. | Virginia Beach, VA
Job Description. Job Description. ONSITE. Who We Are. Founded in 2007, SimIS Inc. is an innovative information technology solution Veteran Owned Small Busi... more
9 Days Ago
Saalex
Tidewater, VA
Saalex | Tidewater, VA
Job Description. Job Description. Saalex Corporation. is seeking multiple. Cybersecurity Engineer III in Tidewater, VA and San Diego, CA. Saalex Corp., is ... more
9 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
