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Digital Design Engineer III Salary in the United States

How much does a Digital Design Engineer III make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Digital Design Engineer III in the United States is $127,448 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $143,112
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $117,513 to $135,647
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $108,468

Key Factors That Influence Digital Design Engineer III Salaries

A Digital Design 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.

How Experience Level Affects Digital Design Engineer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Digital Design 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:

  • Digital Design Engineer I (0-2 years): $81,244
  • Digital Design Engineer II (2-4 years): $102,229
  • Digital Design Engineer III (4-7 years): $127,448
  • Digital Design Engineer IV (7+ years): $161,207
  • Digital Design Engineer V (7-10 years): $191,007
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Digital Design Engineer I0-2 years$81,244
Digital Design Engineer II2-4 years$102,229
Digital Design Engineer III4-7 years$127,448
Digital Design Engineer IV7+ years$161,207
Digital Design Engineer V7-10 years$191,007

Top Paying Cities for Digital Design 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: $160,750
  • San Francisco: $158,990
  • Oakland: $155,639

What Skills Can Increase a Digital Design Engineer III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 10.53% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Perl (Mentioned in 4.05% Job Postings): Perl is a high-level, interpreted, general-purpose programming language originally developed for text manipulation. It borrows many features from C and Shell script and is used for system administration, networking, and other applications that involve user interfaces
  • Algorithms (Mentioned in 2.43% Job Postings): Algorithms act as an exact list of instructions that conduct specified actions step by step in either hardware- or software-based routines.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 10.53%
Perl 4.05%
Algorithms 2.43%

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 Digital Design Engineer III's salary.

  • Perl: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • ARM: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Cadence: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Perl $138,918
9%
ARM $138,918
9%
Cadence $137,644
8%

Digital Design Engineer III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Digital Design Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $143,522. While startup companies pay approximate $121,462.

Digital Design Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $121,462
Growth Stage 51~500 $128,441
Established 501~5000 $138,609
Enterprise 5000+ $143,522

Digital Design Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Digital Design Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Digital Design Engineer positions in Media or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Digital Design Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Digital Design Engineer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$165,682$80.030%
Internet$152,938$74.020%
Biotechnology$146,565$70.015%
Energy & Utilities$140,193$67.010%
Pharmaceuticals$140,193$67.010%

Digital Design Engineer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Digital Design 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 September 01, 2026
$117,513
Average $127,448/year
$135,647
$9,793
Average $10,621/month
$11,304
$2,260
Average $2,451/week
$2,609
$56
Average $61/hour
$65
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $135,647 $11,304 $2,609 $65
Average $127,448 $10,621 $2,451 $61
25th Percentile $117,513 $9,793 $2,260 $56

Digital Design Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Digital Design Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Digital Design Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $161,207 - a projected growth of 26% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Digital Design Engineer III

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Digital Design Engineer III

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

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FAQ about Digital Design Engineer III

1. Where can a Digital Design Engineer III earn the most?

A Digital Design Engineer III's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Digital Design Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Digital Design Engineer III is $160,750.

2. What is the highest pay for Digital Design Engineer III?

The highest pay for Digital Design Engineer III is $143,112.

3. What is the lowest pay for Digital Design Engineer III?

The lowest pay for Digital Design Engineer III is $108,468.

4. What are the responsibilities of Digital Design Engineer III?

Responsible for the digital design of integrated circuits and related development. Participates in all phases of physical design including floor planning, clock synthesis, timing optimization and signal integrity. Generates functional and design specifications, defines module interfaces, conducts design reviews and participates in design implementation. Requires knowledge of tools such as BIST, Verilog, IDDQ, and IC Design scripting language. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Digital Design Engineer III?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Digital Design Engineer III roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

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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