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Lean Manufacturing Specialist III Salary in the United States

How much does a Lean Manufacturing Specialist III make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lean Manufacturing Specialist III in the United States is $116,501 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $56.

However, a Lean Manufacturing Specialist III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $136,341
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $107,860 to $126,886
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $99,993

Key Factors That Influence Lean Manufacturing Specialist III Salaries

A Lean Manufacturing Specialist 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 Lean Manufacturing Specialist III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lean Manufacturing Specialist 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:

  • Lean Manufacturing Specialist I (0-2 years): $70,484
  • Lean Manufacturing Specialist II (2-4 years): $93,789
  • Lean Manufacturing Specialist III (4-7 years): $116,501
  • Lean Manufacturing Specialist IV (7+ years): $127,793
  • Lean Manufacturing Specialist V (7-10 years): $143,111
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Lean Manufacturing Specialist I0-2 years$70,484
Lean Manufacturing Specialist II2-4 years$93,789
Lean Manufacturing Specialist III4-7 years$116,501
Lean Manufacturing Specialist IV7+ years$127,793
Lean Manufacturing Specialist V7-10 years$143,111

Top Paying Cities for Lean Manufacturing Specialist 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: $146,943
  • San Francisco: $145,334
  • Oakland: $142,271

What Skills Can Increase a Lean Manufacturing Specialist III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Problem Solving (Mentioned in 4.65% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • Lean Six Sigma (Mentioned in 2.29% Job Postings): Applying the methods of Lean Six Sigma in reducing variation, waste, and cycle time to achieve customer satisfaction and bottom-line results.
  • Change Management (Mentioned in 0.99% Job Postings): Change management (sometimes abbreviated as CM) is a collective term for all approaches to prepare , support and help individuals, teams, and organizations in making organizational change. The most common change drivers include: technological evolution, process reviews, crisis, and consumer habit changes; pressure from new business entrants, acquisitions, mergers, and organizational restructuring. It includes methods that redirect or redefine the use of resources, business process, budget allocations, or other modes of operation that significantly change a company or organization. Organizational change management (OCM) considers the full organization and what needs to change, while change management may be used solely to refer to how people and teams are affected by such organizational transition. It deals with many different disciplines, from behavioral and social sciences to information technology and business solutions.
Skills Demand Percentage
Problem Solving 4.65%
Lean Six Sigma 2.29%
Change Management 0.99%

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 Lean Manufacturing Specialist III's salary.

  • Oral Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • KPI: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Cost Reduction: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Oral Communication $121,161
4%
KPI $119,996
3%
Cost Reduction $118,831
2%

Lean Manufacturing Specialist III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Lean Manufacturing Specialist III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $130,195. While startup companies pay approximate $110,131.

Lean Manufacturing Specialist III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $110,131
Growth Stage 51~500 $116,475
Established 501~5000 $125,720
Enterprise 5000+ $130,195

Lean Manufacturing Specialist III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lean Manufacturing Specialist III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Construction and Retail & Wholesale sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Lean Manufacturing Specialist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lean Manufacturing Specialist III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Lean Manufacturing Specialist III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Construction$151,451$73.030%
Retail & Wholesale$145,626$70.025%
Aerospace & Defense$139,801$67.020%
Insurance$137,471$66.018%
Business Services$133,976$64.015%

Lean Manufacturing Specialist III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lean Manufacturing Specialist 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
$107,860
Average $116,501/year
$126,886
$8,988
Average $9,708/month
$10,574
$2,074
Average $2,240/week
$2,440
$52
Average $56/hour
$61
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $126,886 $10,574 $2,440 $61
Average $116,501 $9,708 $2,240 $56
25th Percentile $107,860 $8,988 $2,074 $52

Lean Manufacturing Specialist III Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Lean Manufacturing Specialist III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Lean Manufacturing Specialist IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $127,793 - a projected growth of 10% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Lean Manufacturing Specialist III

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

Common company salaries for Lean Manufacturing Specialist III

Here are companies hiring for Lean Manufacturing Specialist III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Lean Manufacturing Specialist III

1. Where can a Lean Manufacturing Specialist III earn the most?

A Lean Manufacturing Specialist 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 Lean Manufacturing Specialist III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Lean Manufacturing Specialist III is $146,943.

2. What is the highest pay for Lean Manufacturing Specialist III?

The highest pay for Lean Manufacturing Specialist III is $136,341.

3. What is the lowest pay for Lean Manufacturing Specialist III?

The lowest pay for Lean Manufacturing Specialist III is $99,993.

4. What are the responsibilities of Lean Manufacturing Specialist III?

Utilizes lean principles to improve the operations and processes of a manufacturing organization. Analyzes production workflows, workspace design, and resource utilization to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, or waste. Collects, documents, and interprets production data to identify areas to streamline and improve productivity. Develops metrics to measure and monitor key production processes and evaluates the impacts of lean principles against costs, quality, and delivery goals. Educates employees about lean concepts to ensure initiatives are integrated into workflows and processes. Requires a bachelor's degree. 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 Lean Manufacturing Specialist III?

The Construction industry offers the highest average compensation for Lean Manufacturing Specialist 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.)

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