What are the main factors that influence a Geotechnical Engineer III's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Geotechnical Engineer 's salary?

A Geotechnical Engineer 's salary grows with experience: a Geotechnical Engineer I (0-2 years)earns $74,081, a Geotechnical Engineer II (2-4 years)earns $86,034, a Geotechnical Engineer III (4-7 years)earns $110,410, a Geotechnical Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $127,819,

What are the highest paying states for a Geotechnical Engineer III?

Geotechnical Engineer III salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Geotechnical Engineer III roles are District of Columbia $122,246, California $121,782, Massachusetts $120,159. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Geotechnical Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Geotechnical Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Expert Geotechnical Engineer: $127,900; Geotechnical Engineer IV: $127,819; Senior Geotechnical Engineer: $110,500; Intermediate Geotechnical Engineer: $86,100; Geotechnical Engineer II: $86,034.

How do different companies affect a Geotechnical Engineer III's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Geotechnical Engineer III roles. Large, established industry leaders like Kpmg Us LLP ($114,295) and Warner Bros Discovery ($114,096) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $88,138.

Geotechnical Engineer III Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Geotechnical Engineer III in the United States is $110,410 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $127,774
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $98,579 to $119,499
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $87,807

10% $87,807

50% (Median) $110,410

90% $127,774

Geotechnical Engineer III Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$119,499	$9,958	$2,298	$57
Average	$110,410	$9,201	$2,123	$53
25th Percentile	$98,579	$8,215	$1,896	$47

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Key Factors That Influence Geotechnical Engineer III Salaries

A Geotechnical 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 Geotechnical Engineer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Geotechnical 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:

Geotechnical Engineer I (0-2 years): $74,081
Geotechnical Engineer II (2-4 years): $86,034
Geotechnical Engineer III (4-7 years): $110,410
Geotechnical Engineer IV (7+ years): $127,819

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Geotechnical Engineer I	0-2 years	$74,081
Geotechnical Engineer II	2-4 years	$86,034
Geotechnical Engineer III	4-7 years	$110,410
Geotechnical Engineer IV	7+ years	$127,819

View as Graph

How Do Geotechnical Engineer IIIs 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 Geotechnical Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $122,246.
California: $121,782.
Massachusetts: $120,159.

District of Columbia $122,246 California $121,782 Massachusetts $120,159 Washington $119,718 New Jersey $119,673 Alaska $119,519 Connecticut $117,995 New York $117,377

Hawaii $115,401 Rhode Island $114,473 Maryland $113,844 Minnesota $112,983 Colorado $112,651 Illinois $112,541 Oregon $112,121 Delaware $111,812

New Hampshire $111,618 Virginia $111,183 Pennsylvania $109,913 Nevada $109,273 North Dakota $109,063 Michigan $108,732 Wisconsin $108,610 Vermont $108,367

Texas $107,694 Maine $107,650 Arizona $107,584 Ohio $107,506 Georgia $106,490 Indiana $105,983 Wyoming $105,883 Utah $105,729

Iowa $105,662 Kansas $105,132 Louisiana $104,978 North Carolina $104,923 Missouri $104,901 Florida $104,470 Montana $104,238 Nebraska $104,017

Kentucky $103,896 South Carolina $103,454 Tennessee $103,178 Idaho $103,068 New Mexico $102,262 Oklahoma $102,085 Alabama $101,434 South Dakota $100,341

Arkansas $99,744 West Virginia $99,424 Mississippi $98,464

Top Paying Cities for Geotechnical Engineer III

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: $139,260
San Francisco: $137,735
Oakland: $134,833

San Jose, CA $139,260

San Francisco, CA $137,735

Oakland, CA $134,833

New York, NY $127,125

Paramus, NJ $125,579

Queens Village, NY $125,574

Passaic, NJ $125,469

Bergenfield, NJ $125,459

Stamford, CT $125,216

Huntington, NY $125,171

Newark, NJ $124,355

Bridgeport, CT $124,122

Vallejo, CA $123,902

New Brunswick, NJ $123,858

Petaluma, CA $123,792

Middlesex, NJ $123,582

Somerset, NJ $123,505

Santa Cruz, CA $123,361

Boston, MA $122,688

Monterey, CA $122,300

Seattle, WA $122,047

Santa Rosa, CA $122,025

Los Angeles, CA $121,992

Juneau, AK $121,705

Washington, DC $121,583

Orange, CA $121,190

Santa Ana, CA $120,899

Long Beach, CA $120,789

Anaheim, CA $120,766

Anchorage, AK $120,711

Santa Maria, CA $120,380

Everett, WA $120,358

Danbury, CT $119,969

Bremerton, WA $119,817

Tacoma, WA $119,419

New Suffolk, NY $119,417

Sacramento, CA $119,386

Santa Barbara, CA $119,265

Trenton, NJ $119,143

San Diego, CA $119,143

Brockton, MA $119,022

Fairbanks, AK $118,751

Lompoc, CA $118,470

Lowell, MA $118,380

Ventura, CA $118,360

Nashua, NH $118,337

Stockton, CA $118,326

Modesto, CA $117,520

Poughkeepsie, NY $117,278

Olympia, WA $117,068

Kennewick, WA $117,068

New Haven, CT $117,024

Lawrence, MA $116,626

Hartford, CT $116,516

Riverside, CA $116,494

New Bedford, MA $116,383

Richland, WA $116,383

Bakersfield, CA $116,229

San Bernardino, CA $116,184

New Britain, CT $116,173

Atlantic City, NJ $116,173

New London, CT $116,129

Norwich, CT $116,096

Portsmouth, NH $116,074

Boulder, CO $115,840

Portland, OR $115,688

Worcester, MA $115,677

Minneapolis, MN $115,334

Philadelphia, PA $115,180

Honolulu, HI $114,815

Saint Paul, MN $114,762

Vineland, NJ $114,738

Providence, RI $114,418

Chicago, IL $114,098

Bellingham, WA $113,965

Springfield, MA $113,877

Baltimore, MD $113,844

Chico, CA $113,568

Pittsfield, MA $113,270

Manchester, NH $113,060

Spokane, WA $112,574

Denver, CO $112,563

Albany, NY $112,044

Troy, NY $112,000

Nassau, NY $111,882

Schenectady, NY $111,768

Wilmington, DE $111,680

Burlington, VT $111,525

Salem, OR $111,481

Portland, ME $111,139

Yakima, WA $111,028

Rochester, MN $110,686

Reno, NV $110,631

Fresno, CA $110,631

Milwaukee, WI $110,531

Detroit, MI $110,421

Ann Arbor, MI $110,402

Allentown, PA $110,388

Colorado Springs, CO $110,200

Syracuse, NY $110,145

Carson City, NV $110,145

Houston, TX $109,990

Eugene, OR $109,935

Gary, IN $109,803

Springfield, OR $109,714

Bismarck, ND $109,692

Galveston, TX $109,615

Medford, OR $109,449

Fort Collins, CO $109,405

Concord, NH $109,350

Austin, TX $109,317

Mesa, AZ $109,085

Reading, PA $109,074

Phoenix, AZ $109,063

Dallas, TX $109,030

Saint Cloud, MN $108,924

Madison, WI $108,776

Utica, NY $108,478

Rochester, NY $108,301

Des Moines, IA $108,290

Raleigh, NC $108,279

Atlanta, GA $108,113

Battle Creek, MI $108,080

Salt Lake City, UT $108,047

Lancaster, PA $107,882

Harrisburg, PA $107,727

Kansas City, MO $107,617

Champaign, IL $107,595

Kansas City, KS $107,595

Fort Worth, TX $107,584

Columbus, OH $107,565

Boca Raton, FL $107,539

Pittsburgh, PA $107,495

Richmond, VA $107,451

Indianapolis, IN $107,429

Cleveland, OH $107,418

Las Vegas, NV $107,285

Cincinnati, OH $107,285

Petersburg, VA $107,120

Huntsville, AL $106,954

Lansing, MI $106,880

Lebanon, PA $106,866

Pueblo, CO $106,855

Appleton, WI $106,822

Buffalo, NY $106,778

Dayton, OH $106,744

Racine, WI $106,722

Charlotte, NC $106,711

Saint Louis, MO $106,678

York, PA $106,612

Elkhart, IN $106,612

Gastonia, NC $106,591

Billings, MT $106,564

Beaumont, TX $106,535

Lorain, OH $106,513

Benton Harbor, MI $106,490

Toledo, OH $106,468

Binghamton, NY $106,413

Rock Hill, SC $106,402

Rockford, IL $106,347

Springfield, IL $106,303

Elyria, OH $106,292

Fargo, ND $106,292

Flagstaff, AZ $106,214

Fort Lauderdale, FL $106,148

Duluth, MN $106,082

Miami, FL $106,082

Cheyenne, WY $106,005

Grand Forks, ND $106,005

Bangor, ME $105,762

Cedar Rapids, IA $105,640

Durham, NC $105,594

Louisville, KY $105,585

Grand Rapids, MI $105,563

Hialeah, FL $105,552

Casper, WY $105,397

Scranton, PA $105,265

New Orleans, LA $105,232

Virginia Beach, VA $105,221

Akron, OH $105,166

Peoria, IL $105,022

Sarasota, FL $105,000

Nashville, TN $104,923

Omaha, NE $104,923

Green Bay, WI $104,923

Baton Rouge, LA $104,867

Charleston, SC $104,845

Jamestown, NY $104,790

Davenport, IA $104,790

Tucson, AZ $104,735

Saint Petersburg, FL $104,669

Tampa, FL $104,647

Evansville, IN $104,580

Port Arthur, TX $104,580

Bradenton, FL $104,536

Santa Fe, NM $104,337

Orlando, FL $104,139

Clearwater, FL $104,106

Canton, OH $103,874

La Crosse, WI $103,874

Albuquerque, NM $103,807

Newport News, VA $103,796

High Point, NC $103,763

Ogden, UT $103,719

Corpus Christi, TX $103,631

Norfolk, VA $103,565

Laramie, WY $103,565

Rock Island, IL $103,498

Saginaw, MI $103,476

Jacksonville, FL $103,465

Salisbury, NC $103,443

Boise, ID $103,421

Moline, IL $103,366

Fort Myers, FL $103,333

Memphis, TN $103,311

Tulsa, OK $103,255

Waterloo, IA $103,189

Spartanburg, SC $103,079

Lincoln, NE $103,024

Fort Wayne, IN $103,001

Provo, UT $102,990

Cedar Falls, IA $102,858

San Antonio, TX $102,814

Greensboro, NC $102,770

South Bend, IN $102,759

Savannah, GA $102,637

Muskegon, MI $102,593

Birmingham, AL $102,582

Winston Salem, NC $102,528

Lake Charles, LA $102,262

Anderson, IN $102,240

Lexington, KY $102,207

Augusta, GA $102,173

Greenville, SC $102,173

Lima, OH $102,085

Wichita, KS $102,074

Tuscaloosa, AL $102,074

Columbia, SC $101,975

Springfield, OH $101,953

Asheville, NC $101,776

Bloomington, IN $101,699

Knoxville, TN $101,301

Shreveport, LA $101,290

Wilmington, NC $101,147

Roanoke, VA $101,147

Topeka, KS $100,948

Frankfort, KY $100,936

Oklahoma City, OK $100,860

Chillicothe, OH $100,815

Longview, TX $100,804

Melbourne, FL $100,793

Sioux Falls, SD $100,617

Mobile, AL $100,606

Terre Haute, IN $100,561

Altoona, PA $100,495

Amarillo, TX $100,418

Killeen, TX $100,385

Fayetteville, AR $100,296

Chattanooga, TN $100,263

Sioux City, IA $100,164

Idaho Falls, ID $100,142

Lynchburg, VA $100,054

Gainesville, FL $99,910

Portsmouth, OH $99,855

Little Rock, AR $99,833

Lafayette, LA $99,789

Youngstown, OH $99,789

Daytona Beach, FL $99,722

Clarksville, TN $99,711

Pensacola, FL $99,700

Temple, TX $99,693

Hopkinsville, KY $99,369

Erie, PA $99,347

Florence, SC $99,303

Charleston, WV $99,126

Great Falls, MT $99,071

Macon, GA $98,916

Tallahassee, FL $98,905

Fayetteville, NC $98,883

Waco, TX $98,861

Helena, MT $98,784

Pine Bluff, AR $98,742

Vincennes, IN $98,607

Lubbock, TX $98,563

Alamogordo, NM $98,497

Twin Falls, ID $98,397

Rapid City, SD $98,364

Jackson, MS $98,166

Huntington, WV $98,158

Greenville, MS $98,154

Parkersburg, WV $98,042

Montgomery, AL $98,022

Wichita Falls, TX $97,912

Springfield, MO $97,912

Biloxi, MS $97,856

Monroe, LA $97,746

Johnstown, PA $97,669

Sumter, SC $97,625

Columbus, GA $97,613

Pascagoula, MS $97,404

Abilene, TX $97,404

Kingsport, TN $97,117

Albany, GA $97,117

Gulfport, MS $97,084

Alexandria, LA $96,719

Fort Smith, AR $96,443

El Paso, TX $96,145

Las Cruces, NM $95,648

Harlingen, TX $95,368

Pocatello, ID $95,350

Florence, AL $95,207

Brownsville, TX $95,184

Mcallen, TX $94,953

Dothan, AL $94,798

Columbus, MS $94,142

Altus, OK $93,628

Lawton, OK $93,418

Pierre, SD $93,020

What Skills Can Increase a Geotechnical Engineer III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Consulting (Mentioned in 10.73% Job Postings): Providing technical or business expertise and advice to internal or external clients.
Engineering Services (Mentioned in 3.3% Job Postings): Engineering services" means any service or creative work, the adequate performance of which requires engineering education, training and experience in the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences
Business Development (Mentioned in 1.98% Job Postings): Business development entails tasks and processes to develop and implement growth opportunities within and between organizations. It is a subset of the fields of business, commerce and organizational theory. Business development is the creation of long-term value for an organization from customers, markets, and relationships. Business development can be taken to mean any activity by either a small or large organization, non-profit or for-profit enterprise which serves the purpose of ‘developing’ the business in some way. In addition, business development activities can be done internally or externally by a business development consultant. External business development can be facilitated through Planning Systems, which are put in place by governments to help small businesses. In addition, reputation building has also proven to help facilitate business development.

Skills	Demand Percentage
Consulting	10.73%
Engineering Services	3.3%
Business Development	1.98%

See More Skills

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 Geotechnical Engineer III's salary.

Business Sense: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Industry Knowledge: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Client Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Business Sense	$121,451	10%
Industry Knowledge	$115,931	5%
Client Management	$115,931	5%

Get Latest Data

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

Geotechnical Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $119,939. While startup companies pay approximate $101,770.

Geotechnical Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$101,770
Growth Stage	51~500	$107,557
Established	501~5000	$115,912
Enterprise	5000+	$119,939

Geotechnical Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Geotechnical 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 Construction and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Geotechnical Engineer positions in Business Services or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Geotechnical Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Geotechnical Engineer III

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Construction	$132,492	$64.0	20%
Energy & Utilities	$121,451	$58.0	10%

How Education impacts an Geotechnical Engineer III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Geotechnical 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 Geotechnical Engineer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $99,640 and $106,728.

Geotechnical Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level

$107,700
$106,500
$105,400
$104,200
$103,100
$102,000
$100,800
$99,700

Typical Education for Geotechnical Engineer III
Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	41.7%
High School	47.2%
Associates	11.1%
Bachelors	41.7%
Masters	47.2%
Doctorate	11.1%

View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Geotechnical 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.

$98,579

Average $110,410/year

$119,499

$8,215

Average $9,201/month

$9,958

$1,896

Average $2,123/week

$2,298

$47

Average $53/hour

$57

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$119,499	$9,958	$2,298	$57
Average	$110,410	$9,201	$2,123	$53
25th Percentile	$98,579	$8,215	$1,896	$47

Geotechnical Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Geotechnical Engineer III

Next Role

Geotechnical Engineer IV

For a Geotechnical Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Geotechnical Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $127,819 - a projected growth of 16% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Geotechnical Engineer III

Salaries for a Geotechnical Engineer III can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $117,999 in 2023 to around $103,922 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Geotechnical Engineer III salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Geotechnical Engineer III Over Time

$???
$117,999
$109,747
$103,922
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$117,999
2024	$109,747
2025	$103,922
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Geotechnical Engineer III

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

Common company salaries for Geotechnical Engineer III

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

K $114,295/per year

Kpmg Us LLP Business Services the United States

W $114,096/per year

Warner Bros Discovery Business Services the United States

D $111,927/per year

Dentsu International Ltd Business Services the United States

G $111,873/per year

GroupM Worldwide Inc Business Services the United States

C $111,651/per year

CoWorx Staffing Business Services the United States

C $110,194/per year

Contemporary Services Corp Business Services the United States

S $107,128/per year

Showcase Cinemas Business Services the United States

A $106,429/per year

Amentum Services Inc Business Services the United States

A $106,199/per year

Allied Universal Security Services LLC Business Services the United States

S $106,104/per year

Sodexo USA Business Services the United States

J $105,192/per year

JLL Technologies Business Services the United States

I $104,478/per year

Intact Insurance Group USA LLC Business Services the United States

N $101,619/per year

NielsenIQ Business Services the United States

T $101,470/per year

The Leading Edge Alliance Business Services the United States

H $101,308/per year

Honeywell UOP Business Services the United States

R $97,720/per year

Reeve & Associates Business Services the United States

M $97,584/per year

ManpowerGroup Global Inc Business Services the United States

F $95,980/per year

Financial Sys Nco Business Services the United States

A $95,314/per year

Arrow Global Ltd Business Services the United States

C $94,777/per year

CarMax Enterprise Services LLC Business Services the United States

D $94,479/per year

DZConneX Business Services the United States

A $93,802/per year

Adecco Staffing, USA Business Services the United States

R $92,937/per year

Resource MFG Business Services the United States

Z $92,774/per year

Zachry Brands Inc Business Services the United States

G $88,138/per year

Greystar Worldwide LLC Business Services the United States

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FAQ about Geotechnical Engineer III

1. Where can a Geotechnical Engineer III earn the most?

A Geotechnical 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 Geotechnical Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Geotechnical Engineer III is $139,260.

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

The highest pay for Geotechnical Engineer III is $127,774.

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

The lowest pay for Geotechnical Engineer III is $87,807.

4. What are the responsibilities of Geotechnical Engineer III?

Prepares and inspects projects involving drilling and exploration. Responsible for geological mapping, report writing, site characterization, numerical modeling and analysis of excavations/supports. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Typically requires 4 to 7 years of related experience. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature.

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

The Construction industry offers the highest average compensation for Geotechnical 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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