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Electrical Engineer III Salary in the United States

How much does an Electrical Engineer III make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Electrical Engineer III in the United States is $120,758 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $58.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $138,720
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $112,728 to $130,160
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $105,417

Key Factors That Influence Electrical Engineer III Salaries

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.

How Experience Level Affects Electrical Engineer III Salaries?

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:

  • Electrical Engineer I (0-2 years): $81,903
  • Electrical Engineer II (2-4 years): $99,277
  • Electrical Engineer III (4-7 years): $120,758
  • Electrical Engineer IV (7+ years): $143,785
  • Electrical Engineer V (7-10 years): $166,797
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Electrical Engineer I0-2 years$81,903
Electrical Engineer II2-4 years$99,277
Electrical Engineer III4-7 years$120,758
Electrical Engineer IV7+ years$143,785
Electrical Engineer V7-10 years$166,797

Top Paying Cities for Electrical 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: $152,312
  • San Francisco: $150,644
  • Oakland: $147,470

What Skills Can Increase an Electrical Engineer III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.98% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 2.94% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 1.59% Job Postings): 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
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.98%
Installation 2.94%
CAD 1.59%

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 an Electrical Engineer III's salary.

  • Prototyping: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Circuit Design: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • PCB Design: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Prototyping $125,588
4%
Circuit Design $124,381
3%
PCB Design $124,381
3%

Electrical Engineer III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Electrical Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $134,952. While startup companies pay approximate $114,156.

Electrical Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $114,156
Growth Stage 51~500 $120,731
Established 501~5000 $130,313
Enterprise 5000+ $134,952

Electrical Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Electrical Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Electrical Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Electrical Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Electrical Engineer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$144,910$70.020%
Healthcare$138,872$67.015%
Biotechnology$132,834$64.010%
Insurance$132,834$64.010%
Pharmaceuticals$132,834$64.010%

How Education impacts an Electrical Engineer III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Electrical Engineer III enter the field with a Bachelor's 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

Typical Education for Electrical Engineer III
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%

Electrical Engineer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

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 September 01, 2026
$112,728
Average $120,758/year
$130,160
$9,394
Average $10,063/month
$10,847
$2,168
Average $2,322/week
$2,503
$54
Average $58/hour
$63
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $130,160 $10,847 $2,503 $63
Average $120,758 $10,063 $2,322 $58
25th Percentile $112,728 $9,394 $2,168 $54

Electrical Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Electrical 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.

Electrical Engineer III Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Signal & Image Processing Engineer IV $147,100 22%
Electrical Engineer IV $143,785 19%
Electronics Engineer IV $143,785 19%
Radio Frequency Engineer IV $143,785 19%

Most common benefits for Electrical Engineer III

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

Common company salaries for Electrical Engineer III

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

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FAQ about Electrical Engineer III

1. Where can an Electrical Engineer III earn the most?

An Electrical 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, an Electrical Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Electrical Engineer III is $152,312.

2. What is the highest pay for Electrical Engineer III?

The highest pay for Electrical Engineer III is $138,720.

3. What is the lowest pay for Electrical Engineer III?

The lowest pay for Electrical Engineer III is $105,417.

4. What are the responsibilities of Electrical Engineer III?

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.

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

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Electrical Engineer III roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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