As of January 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for an Electrical Engineer III in the United States is $58, which translates to an annual salary of about $120,761.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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An Electrical 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.
Experience is a primary driver of an Electrical 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Engineer I | 0-2 years | $81,911 |
| Electrical Engineer II | 2-4 years | $99,287 |
| Electrical Engineer III | 4-7 years | $120,761 |
| Electrical Engineer IV | 7+ years | $143,789 |
| Electrical Engineer V | 7-10 years | $166,844 |
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 Electrical Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 7.98% |
| Installation | 2.94% |
| CAD | 1.59% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Prototyping
|
$125,591 |
4%
|
|
Circuit Design
|
$124,384 |
3%
|
|
PCB Design
|
$124,384 |
3%
|
|
Product Development
|
$124,384 |
3%
|
|
Consulting
|
$123,176 |
2%
|
|
Collaboration
|
$123,176 |
2%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Electrical Engineer IIIs enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Electrical Engineer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $112,142 and $117,402).
Electrical Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.1% |
| High School | 0.3% |
| Associates | 1.2% |
| Bachelors | 43.2% |
| Masters | 41.0% |
| Doctorate | 14.2% |
Understanding how an Electrical 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
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Designs, develops, and tests electrical equipment, components, circuits, or systems. Applies mathematical and engineering principles and methods to designs. Performs extensive testing and validation of designs to ensure reliability, performance, and safety standards are achieved. Conducts research and studies new technologies to innovate and design solutions or products. Requires a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Typically reports to a 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.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Installation: The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
CAD: Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer
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.
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