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Metallurgical Engineer III Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Metallurgical Engineer III in the United States is $99,456 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $48.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $116,572
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $90,067 to $108,415
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $81,519

Key Factors That Influence Metallurgical Engineer III Salaries

A Metallurgical 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 Metallurgical Engineer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Metallurgical 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:

  • Metallurgical Engineer I (0-2 years): $76,519
  • Metallurgical Engineer II (2-4 years): $90,398
  • Metallurgical Engineer III (4-7 years): $99,456
  • Metallurgical Engineer IV (7+ years): $120,755
  • Metallurgical Engineer V (7-10 years): $140,384
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Metallurgical Engineer I0-2 years$76,519
Metallurgical Engineer II2-4 years$90,398
Metallurgical Engineer III4-7 years$99,456
Metallurgical Engineer IV7+ years$120,755
Metallurgical Engineer V7-10 years$140,384

Top Paying Cities for Metallurgical 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: $125,444
  • San Francisco: $124,070
  • Oakland: $121,456

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 15.56% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • ISO (Mentioned in 2.13% Job Postings): The International Organization for Standardization is an international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries.
  • Environmental Compliance (Mentioned in 1.51% Job Postings): Environmental Compliance means conforming to environmental laws, regulations, standards and other requirements such as site permits to operate. In recent years, environmental concerns have led to a significant increase in the number and scope of compliance imperatives across all global regulatory environments. Being closely related, environmental concerns and compliance activities are increasingly being aligned with corporate performance goals and being integrated to some extent to avoid conflicts, wasteful overlaps, and gaps. Compliance with the above requirements and obligations, requires meeting certain conditions. Typically, these include: Managing monitoring programmes or schedules, ensuring that the monitoring required in the permit has been done, at the correct locations, for the correct parameters, and at the correct frequency Pre-processing, performing calculations and validating the data for compliance with any alert or reporting levels Generating routine compliance reports for authorities.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 15.56%
ISO 2.13%
Environmental Compliance 1.51%

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 Metallurgical Engineer III's salary.

  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • SEM: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting $109,402
10%
SEM $109,402
10%
Dedication $105,423
6%

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

Metallurgical Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $110,985. While startup companies pay approximate $93,947.

Metallurgical Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $93,947
Growth Stage 51~500 $99,339
Established 501~5000 $107,198
Enterprise 5000+ $110,985

Metallurgical Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Metallurgical Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and MFG Durable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Metallurgical Engineer positions in MFG Nondurable or Financial Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Metallurgical Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Metallurgical Engineer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$124,320$60.025%
MFG Durable$104,429$50.05%

How Education impacts an Metallurgical Engineer III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Metallurgical 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 Metallurgical Engineer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $111,550 and $117,579.

Metallurgical Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Metallurgical Engineer III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.6%
High School 57.1%
Associates 3.6%
Bachelors 57.1%
Masters 32.1%
Doctorate 7.1%

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

Understanding how a Metallurgical 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 August 01, 2026
$90,067
Average $99,456/year
$108,415
$7,506
Average $8,288/month
$9,035
$1,732
Average $1,913/week
$2,085
$43
Average $48/hour
$52
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $108,415 $9,035 $2,085 $52
Average $99,456 $8,288 $1,913 $48
25th Percentile $90,067 $7,506 $1,732 $43

Metallurgical Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Metallurgical 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.

Metallurgical Engineer III Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Materials Engineer IV $124,940 26%
Metallurgical Engineer IV $120,755 21%

Most common benefits for Metallurgical Engineer III

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

Common company salaries for Metallurgical Engineer III

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

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FAQ about Metallurgical Engineer III

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

A Metallurgical 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 Metallurgical Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Metallurgical Engineer III is $125,444.

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

The highest pay for Metallurgical Engineer III is $116,572.

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

The lowest pay for Metallurgical Engineer III is $81,519.

4. What are the responsibilities of Metallurgical Engineer III?

Designs and initiates processes for the manufacturing of metals from ores. Reviews metallurgical data and makes recommendations for equipment and process design. Performs analysis and tests to aid in the development of new and improved metals and alloys as well as their applications to various products. Investigates and resolves metallurgical issues to improve process efficiency. Requires a bachelor's degree in 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 Metallurgical Engineer III?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Metallurgical Engineer III roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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