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Hourly Wage for Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Mechanical Engineering Technician III?

As of July 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Mechanical Engineering Technician III in the United States is $32, which translates to an annual salary of about $67,571.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $37 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $29 to $35 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $26 per hour
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View as table View as graph 25% $29 10% $26 90% $37 75% $35 $32 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $72,627 $6,052 $1,397 $35
Average $67,571 $5,631 $1,299 $32
25th Percentile $61,036 $5,086 $1,174 $29
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Key Factors That Influence Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salaries

A Mechanical Engineering Technician 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 Mechanical Engineering Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Mechanical Engineering Technician 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:

  • Mechanical Engineering Technician I (0-1 years): $52,742
  • Mechanical Engineering Technician II (1-3 years): $58,938
  • Mechanical Engineering Technician III (3-5 years): $67,571
  • Mechanical Engineering Technician IV (5-7 years): $75,167
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Mechanical Engineering Technician I0-1 years$52,742
Mechanical Engineering Technician II1-3 years$58,938
Mechanical Engineering Technician III3-5 years$67,571
Mechanical Engineering Technician IV5-7 years$75,167
$52,742 Mechanica...
$58,938 Mechanica...
$67,571 Mechanica...
$75,167 Mechanica...
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Mechanical Engineering Technician III 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 Mechanical Engineering Technician IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $74,815.
  • California: $74,531.
  • Massachusetts: $73,538.

Top Paying Cities for Mechanical Engineering Technician 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: $85,227
  • San Francisco: $84,294
  • Oakland: $82,518

What Skills Can Increase a Mechanical Engineering Technician III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.44% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Preventive Maintenance (Mentioned in 2.58% Job Postings): Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.
  • Calibration (Mentioned in 1.54% Job Postings): In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.44%
Preventive Maintenance 2.58%
Calibration 1.54%
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 Mechanical Engineering Technician III's salary.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Oral Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight
$76,355
13%
Oral Communication
$75,680
12%
Scheduling
$72,301
7%
Career Development
$71,625
6%
Safety Training
$71,625
6%
Planning
$70,274
4%
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Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Mechanical Engineering Technician III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $75,578. While startup companies pay approximate $63,916.

Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$63,916
Growth Stage51~500$67,601
Established501~5000$72,985
Enterprise5000+$75,578

Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Mechanical Engineering Technician 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 Pharmaceuticals and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Mechanical Engineering Technician positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Mechanical Engineering Technician III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Mechanical Engineering Technician III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$84,464$41.025%
Software & Networking$84,464$41.025%
Energy & Utilities$81,085$39.020%
Insurance$77,707$37.015%
Financial Services$74,328$36.010%

How Education impacts a Mechanical Engineering Technician III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Mechanical Engineering Technician IIIs enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Mechanical Engineering Technician III with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $67,074 and $72,575).

Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Mechanical Engineering Technician III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 16.0%
Associates 60.0%
Bachelors 21.3%
Masters 1.3%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Mechanical Engineering Technician 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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Mechanical Engineering Technician III

Salaries for a Mechanical Engineering Technician III can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $62,867 in 2023 to around $62,801 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Mechanical Engineering Technician III salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Mechanical Engineering Technician III Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$62,867
2024
$63,040
2025
$62,801
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $62,867
2024 $63,040
2025 $62,801
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Mechanical Engineering Technician III

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Mechanical Engineering Technician III

Here are companies hiring for Mechanical Engineering Technician III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Mechanical Engineering Technician III

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Mechanical Engineering Technician III?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Mechanical Engineering Technician III roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

2. What are the responsibilities of Mechanical Engineering Technician III?

Assists mechanical engineers in the planning, testing, and maintenance of mechanical components, equipment, and machinery. Gathers data and project requirements to help prepare proposals, cost estimates, and develop specifications for new parts or prototypes. Conducts clerical research tasks and summarizes and reports findings to support research and development of new technologies or processes. Installs, calibrates, tests, and repairs mechanical components and engineering solutions. Fabricates, modifies, and assembles new or existing mechanical components. Requires a high school diploma. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works independently within established procedures associated with the specific job function. Has gained proficiency in multiple competencies relevant to the job. Typically requires 3-5 years of related experience.

3. What are the skills of Mechanical Engineering Technician III

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.

1.)

Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.

2.)

Preventive Maintenance: Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.

3.)

Calibration: In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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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