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Model Maker III Salary in the United States

How much does a Model Maker III make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Model Maker III in the United States is $72,059 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,589
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65,704 to $80,188
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $59,918
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Model Maker III Salaries

A Model Maker 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 Model Maker III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Model Maker 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:

  • Model Maker II (1-3 years): $58,547
  • Model Maker III (3-5 years): $72,059
  • Model Maker IV (5-7 years): $84,956
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Model Maker II1-3 years$58,547
Model Maker III3-5 years$72,059
Model Maker IV5-7 years$84,956
View as Graph

How Do Model Maker 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 Model Maker IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $79,784.
  • California: $79,481.
  • Massachusetts: $78,422.

Top Paying Cities for Model Maker 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: $90,888
  • San Francisco: $89,893
  • Oakland: $87,998

What Skills Can Increase a Model Maker III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Problem Solving (Mentioned in 3.08% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • Data Integration (Mentioned in 1.8% Job Postings): Data integration involves combining data residing in different sources and providing users with a unified view of them. This process becomes significant in a variety of situations, which include both commercial (such as when two similar companies need to merge their databases) and scientific (combining research results from different bioinformatics repositories, for example) domains. Data integration appears with increasing frequency as the volume (that is, big data) and the need to share existing data explodes. It has become the focus of extensive theoretical work, and numerous open problems remain unsolved. Data integration encourages collaboration between internal as well as external users.
  • Prototyping (Mentioned in 1.8% Job Postings): Creating a sample product that may be tested to discover potential problems and avoid mistakes.
Skills Demand Percentage
Problem Solving 3.08%
Data Integration 1.8%
Prototyping 1.8%
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 Model Maker III's salary.

  • Financial Modeling: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Employee Health and Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Taking Action: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Financial Modeling $85,030
18%
Employee Health and Safety $83,588
16%
Taking Action $83,588
16%
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Model Maker III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Model Maker III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $81,362. While startup companies pay approximate $68,866.

Model Maker III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $68,866
Growth Stage 51~500 $72,817
Established 501~5000 $78,582
Enterprise 5000+ $81,362

Model Maker III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Model Maker 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 Biotechnology and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Model Maker positions in MFG Nondurable or Aerospace & Defense typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Model Maker III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Model Maker III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$86,471$42.020%
Construction$79,265$38.010%
MFG Durable$75,662$36.05%

How Education impacts an Model Maker III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Model Maker 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 Model Maker III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $67,921 and $73,379.

Model Maker III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Model Maker III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 14.7%
High School 14.7%
Associates 20.6%
Bachelors 61.8%
Masters 2.9%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Model Maker III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Model Maker 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
$65,704
Average $72,059/year
$80,188
$5,475
Average $6,005/month
$6,682
$1,264
Average $1,386/week
$1,542
$32
Average $35/hour
$39
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $80,188 $6,682 $1,542 $39
Average $72,059 $6,005 $1,386 $35
25th Percentile $65,704 $5,475 $1,264 $32

Model Maker III Salary Growth & Career Path

Model Maker III

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Advancement

For a Model Maker III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Model Maker IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $84,956 - a projected growth of 18% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Model Maker III

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

Common company salaries for Model Maker III

Here are companies hiring for Model Maker III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Model Maker III

1. Where can a Model Maker III earn the most?

A Model Maker 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 Model Maker III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Model Maker III is $90,888.

2. What is the highest pay for Model Maker III?

The highest pay for Model Maker III is $87,589.

3. What is the lowest pay for Model Maker III?

The lowest pay for Model Maker III is $59,918.

4. What are the responsibilities of Model Maker III?

Designs and builds scale models of industrial products, parts or components, and manufacturing equipment. Utilizes various machinery and materials to create prototypes that allow stakeholders to visualize, test, and refine designs before production. Analyses requirements, specifications, and engineering designs to determine the best materials and methods to fabricate models. Collaborates with stakeholders to incorporate revisions or modifications to the appearance and performance of prototypes. Creates and maintains documentation detailing the dimensions, materials, equipment, and processes used. 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.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Model Maker III?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Model Maker 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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