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Packaging Development Engineer III Salary in the United States

How much does a Packaging Development Engineer III make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Packaging Development Engineer III in the United States is $105,200 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

However, a Packaging Development Engineer III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $125,833
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $95,700 to $116,000
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $87,051
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View as table View as graph 25% $95,700 10% $87,051 90% $125,833 75% $116,000 $105,200 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Packaging Development Engineer III Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $116,000 $9,667 $2,231 $56
Average $105,200 $8,767 $2,023 $51
25th Percentile $95,700 $7,975 $1,840 $46
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Key Factors That Influence Packaging Development Engineer III Salaries

A Packaging Development 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Packaging Development Engineer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Packaging Development 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $100,946
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $101,655
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $103,073
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $108,424
  • Expert (over 8 years): $111,325
Levels Salary
Entry Level Packaging Development Engineer III$100,946
Intermediate Level Packaging Development Engineer III$101,655
Senior Level Packaging Development Engineer III$103,073
Specialist Level Packaging Development Engineer III$108,424
Expert Level Packaging Development Engineer III$111,325
$100,946 0 yr
$101,655 < 2 yrs
$103,073 2-4 yrs
$108,424 5-8 yrs
$111,325 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Packaging Development Engineer III Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Packaging Development Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $116,400.
  • California: $116,000.
  • Massachusetts: $114,400.

Top Paying Cities for Packaging Development Engineer 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: $132,600
  • San Francisco: $131,300
  • Oakland: $128,400

What Skills Can Increase a Packaging Development Engineer III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 2.52% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • SOP (Mentioned in 1.29% Job Postings): SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
  • Packaging Engineering (Mentioned in 0.84% Job Postings): Packaging engineering, also package engineering, packaging technology and packaging science, is a broad topic ranging from design conceptualization to product placement. All steps along the manufacturing process, and more, must be taken into account in the design of the package for any given product. Package engineering is an interdisciplinary field integrating science, engineering, technology and management to protect and identify products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. It encompasses the process of design, evaluation, and production of packages. It is a system integral to the value chain that impacts product quality, user satisfaction, distribution efficiencies, and safety. includes industry-specific aspects of industrial engineering, marketing, materials science, industrial design and logistics. Packaging engineers must interact with research and development, manufacturing, marketing, graphic design, regulatory, purchasing, planning and so on. The package must sell and protect the product, while maintaining an efficient, cost-effective process cycle.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 2.52%
SOP 1.29%
Packaging Engineering 0.84%
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 Packaging Development Engineer III's salary.
  • Use Cases: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Hard Working: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Use Cases
$120,980
15%
Hard Working
$111,512
6%
Accountability
$109,408
4%
Work Ethic
$108,356
3%
Analysis
$108,356
3%
Innovation
$108,356
3%
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How Education impacts a Packaging Development Engineer III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Packaging Development Engineer IIIs enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Packaging Development Engineer III with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $108,561 and $113,324).

Packaging Development Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Packaging Development Engineer III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.1%
High School 4.1%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 63.3%
Masters 28.6%
Doctorate 2.0%
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Packaging Development Engineer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Packaging Development 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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Packaging Development Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Packaging Development Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Packaging Development Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $129,500 - a projected growth of 23% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Packaging Development Engineer III

Salaries for a Packaging Development Engineer III can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $111,801 in 2023 to around $110,033 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Packaging Development Engineer III salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Packaging Development Engineer III Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$111,801
2024
$111,257
2025
$110,033
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $111,801
2024 $111,257
2025 $110,033
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Packaging Development Engineer III

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Packaging Development Engineer III

Here are companies hiring for Packaging Development Engineer III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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.)

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