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Hourly Wage for Network Engineer III Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Network Engineer III?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Network Engineer III in the United States is $55, which translates to an annual salary of about $113,846.

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): $63 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51 to $59 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Network Engineer III Salaries

A Network 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 Network Engineer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Network 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:

  • Network Engineer I (0-2 years): $78,882
  • Network Engineer II (2-4 years): $94,110
  • Network Engineer III (4-7 years): $113,846
  • Network Engineer IV (7+ years): $133,798
  • Network Engineer V (7-10 years): $153,190
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Network Engineer I0-2 years$78,882
Network Engineer II2-4 years$94,110
Network Engineer III4-7 years$113,846
Network Engineer IV7+ years$133,798
Network Engineer V7-10 years$153,190
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How Do Network Engineer 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 Network Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $126,050.
  • California: $125,572.
  • Massachusetts: $123,899.

Top Paying Cities for Network Engineer 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: $143,594
  • San Francisco: $142,022
  • Oakland: $139,029

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Networking (Mentioned in 8.34% Job Postings): Ability to maintain, build and expand a personal and business contact list to grow one's career and business opportunities.
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.67% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
  • Telecommunications (Mentioned in 1.77% Job Postings): Telecommunication is the transmission of information by various types of technologies over wire, radio or optical. It has its origin in the desire of humans for communication over a distance greater than that feasible with the human voice.
Skills Demand Percentage
Networking 8.34%
Computer Science 2.67%
Telecommunications 1.77%
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 Network Engineer III's salary.

  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • OSPF: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Innovation $118,400
4%
Flexibility $117,261
3%
OSPF $117,261
3%
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Network Engineer III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Network Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $127,228. While startup companies pay approximate $107,622.

Network Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $107,622
Growth Stage 51~500 $113,821
Established 501~5000 $122,855
Enterprise 5000+ $127,228

Network Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Network Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 130% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Network Engineer positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Network Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Network Engineer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$170,769$82.050%
Internet$159,384$77.040%
Pharmaceuticals$153,692$74.035%
Financial Services$148,000$71.030%
Biotechnology$142,308$68.025%

How Education impacts a Network Engineer III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Network 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 Network Engineer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $109,537 and $114,931.

Network Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Network Engineer III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.5%
High School 22.5%
Associates 13.8%
Bachelors 45.3%
Masters 15.7%
Doctorate 1.0%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Network 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 September 01, 2026
$105,657
Average $113,846/year
$122,420
$8,805
Average $9,487/month
$10,202
$2,032
Average $2,189/week
$2,354
$51
Average $55/hour
$59
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $122,420 $10,202 $2,354 $59
Average $113,846 $9,487 $2,189 $55
25th Percentile $105,657 $8,805 $2,032 $51

Most common benefits for Network Engineer III

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

Common company salaries for Network Engineer III

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

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FAQ about Network Engineer III

1. What are the responsibilities of Network Engineer III?

Develops and deploys plans and designs of network systems that will meet an organization's requirements for performance, security, and compliance with relevant standards and regulations. Conducts network architecture design, feasibility, and cost studies. Defines monitoring, maintenance, expansion, contingency, and recovery plans and strategies to ensure the network is responsive to changes in demand. Troubleshoots network issues and develops appropriate solutions, resources, and deployment processes. Keeps informed of the latest technologies to enhance knowledge of networking hardware, software, and best practices. May be certified in vendor-specific products. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering or equivalent. 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.

2. What are the skills of Network Engineer 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.)

Networking: Ability to maintain, build and expand a personal and business contact list to grow one's career and business opportunities.

2.)

Computer Science: Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.

3.)

Telecommunications: Telecommunication is the transmission of information by various types of technologies over wire, radio or optical. It has its origin in the desire of humans for communication over a distance greater than that feasible with the human voice.

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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