What are the main factors that influence an Optical Engineer III's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Optical Engineer III?

The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for Optical Engineer III roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

How does experience change An Optical Engineer 's salary?

An Optical Engineer 's salary grows with experience: an Optical Engineer I (2-4 years)earns $86,768, an Optical Engineer III (4-7 years)earns $110,855, an Optical Engineer III (7+ years)earns $129,009, an Optical Engineer IV (7-10 years)earns $168,427,

What are the highest paying cities for an Optical Engineer III?

Optical Engineer III salary varies significantly by city. The top 3 highest paying cities in South Dakota for Optical Engineer III roles are San Jose $151,693, San Francisco $150,032, Oakland $146,870.

How much do different types of Optical Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Optical Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Optical Engineer V: $182,727; Optical Design Engineer III: $140,000; Optical Engineer IV: $139,963; Senior Optical Engineer: $106,277; Optical Design Engineer: $98,980.

Optical Engineer III Salary in Mansfield, SD

How much does an Optical Engineer III make in Mansfield, SD?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optical Engineer III in Mansfield, SD is $110,855 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $123,891
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $103,989 to $117,679
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $97,738

10% $97,738

50% (Median) $110,855

90% $123,891

Optical Engineer III Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$117,679	$9,807	$2,263	$57
Average	$110,855	$9,238	$2,132	$53
25th Percentile	$103,989	$8,666	$2,000	$50

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Key Factors That Influence Optical Engineer III Salaries

An Optical 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Optical Engineer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Optical 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:

Optical Engineer I (2-4 years): $86,768
Optical Engineer III (4-7 years): $110,855
Optical Engineer III (7+ years): $129,009
Optical Engineer IV (7-10 years): $168,427

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Optical Engineer I	2-4 years	$86,768
Optical Engineer III	4-7 years	$110,855
Optical Engineer III	7+ years	$129,009
Optical Engineer IV	7-10 years	$168,427

View as Graph

Top Paying Cities for Optical 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: $151,693
San Francisco: $150,032
Oakland: $146,870

San Jose, CA $151,693

San Francisco, CA $150,032

Oakland, CA $146,870

New York, NY $138,474

Paramus, NJ $136,790

Queens Village, NY $136,784

Passaic, NJ $136,670

Bergenfield, NJ $136,659

Stamford, CT $136,395

Huntington, NY $136,345

Newark, NJ $135,457

Bridgeport, CT $135,203

Vallejo, CA $134,964

New Brunswick, NJ $134,916

Petaluma, CA $134,843

Middlesex, NJ $134,615

Somerset, NJ $134,531

Santa Cruz, CA $134,374

Boston, MA $133,641

Monterey, CA $133,219

Seattle, WA $132,943

Santa Rosa, CA $132,919

Los Angeles, CA $132,883

Juneau, AK $132,570

Washington, DC $132,438

Orange, CA $132,010

Santa Ana, CA $131,692

Long Beach, CA $131,572

Anaheim, CA $131,548

Anchorage, AK $131,488

Santa Maria, CA $131,127

Everett, WA $131,103

Danbury, CT $130,680

Bremerton, WA $130,514

Tacoma, WA $130,081

New Suffolk, NY $130,078

Sacramento, CA $130,045

Santa Barbara, CA $129,912

Trenton, NJ $129,780

San Diego, CA $129,780

Brockton, MA $129,648

Fairbanks, AK $129,353

Lompoc, CA $129,046

Lowell, MA $128,949

Ventura, CA $128,926

Nashua, NH $128,902

Stockton, CA $128,890

Modesto, CA $128,012

Poughkeepsie, NY $127,748

Olympia, WA $127,519

Kennewick, WA $127,519

New Haven, CT $127,471

Lawrence, MA $127,038

Hartford, CT $126,918

Riverside, CA $126,894

New Bedford, MA $126,773

Richland, WA $126,773

Bakersfield, CA $126,605

San Bernardino, CA $126,557

New Britain, CT $126,545

Atlantic City, NJ $126,545

New London, CT $126,497

Norwich, CT $126,461

Portsmouth, NH $126,437

Boulder, CO $126,182

Portland, OR $126,016

Worcester, MA $126,004

Minneapolis, MN $125,631

Philadelphia, PA $125,463

Honolulu, HI $125,066

Saint Paul, MN $125,008

Vineland, NJ $124,981

Providence, RI $124,633

Chicago, IL $124,284

Bellingham, WA $124,140

Springfield, MA $124,043

Baltimore, MD $124,007

Chico, CA $123,707

Pittsfield, MA $123,382

Manchester, NH $123,153

Spokane, WA $122,624

Denver, CO $122,612

Albany, NY $122,047

Troy, NY $121,999

Nassau, NY $121,870

Schenectady, NY $121,746

Wilmington, DE $121,650

Burlington, VT $121,482

Salem, OR $121,434

Portland, ME $121,061

Yakima, WA $120,940

Rochester, MN $120,568

Reno, NV $120,508

Fresno, CA $120,508

Milwaukee, WI $120,399

Detroit, MI $120,279

Ann Arbor, MI $120,259

Allentown, PA $120,243

Colorado Springs, CO $120,038

Syracuse, NY $119,978

Carson City, NV $119,978

Houston, TX $119,810

Eugene, OR $119,750

Gary, IN $119,606

Springfield, OR $119,509

Bismarck, ND $119,485

Galveston, TX $119,401

Medford, OR $119,221

Fort Collins, CO $119,173

Concord, NH $119,112

Austin, TX $119,076

Mesa, AZ $118,824

Reading, PA $118,812

Phoenix, AZ $118,800

Dallas, TX $118,764

Saint Cloud, MN $118,648

Madison, WI $118,487

Utica, NY $118,162

Rochester, NY $117,970

Des Moines, IA $117,958

Raleigh, NC $117,946

Atlanta, GA $117,765

Battle Creek, MI $117,729

Salt Lake City, UT $117,693

Lancaster, PA $117,513

Harrisburg, PA $117,345

Kansas City, MO $117,224

Champaign, IL $117,200

Kansas City, KS $117,200

Fort Worth, TX $117,188

Columbus, OH $117,168

Boca Raton, FL $117,140

Pittsburgh, PA $117,092

Richmond, VA $117,044

Indianapolis, IN $117,020

Cleveland, OH $117,008

Las Vegas, NV $116,863

Cincinnati, OH $116,863

Petersburg, VA $116,683

Huntsville, AL $116,503

Lansing, MI $116,422

Lebanon, PA $116,406

Pueblo, CO $116,394

Appleton, WI $116,358

Buffalo, NY $116,310

Dayton, OH $116,274

Racine, WI $116,250

Charlotte, NC $116,238

Saint Louis, MO $116,202

York, PA $116,130

Elkhart, IN $116,130

Gastonia, NC $116,107

Billings, MT $116,078

Beaumont, TX $116,046

Lorain, OH $116,022

Benton Harbor, MI $115,998

Toledo, OH $115,973

Binghamton, NY $115,913

Rock Hill, SC $115,901

Rockford, IL $115,841

Springfield, IL $115,793

Elyria, OH $115,781

Fargo, ND $115,781

Flagstaff, AZ $115,697

Fort Lauderdale, FL $115,625

Duluth, MN $115,553

Miami, FL $115,553

Cheyenne, WY $115,468

Grand Forks, ND $115,468

Bangor, ME $115,204

Cedar Rapids, IA $115,071

Durham, NC $115,021

Louisville, KY $115,011

Grand Rapids, MI $114,987

Hialeah, FL $114,975

Casper, WY $114,807

Scranton, PA $114,663

New Orleans, LA $114,626

Virginia Beach, VA $114,614

Akron, OH $114,554

Peoria, IL $114,398

Sarasota, FL $114,374

Nashville, TN $114,290

Omaha, NE $114,290

Green Bay, WI $114,290

Baton Rouge, LA $114,230

Charleston, SC $114,206

Jamestown, NY $114,145

Davenport, IA $114,145

Tucson, AZ $114,085

Saint Petersburg, FL $114,013

Tampa, FL $113,989

Evansville, IN $113,917

Port Arthur, TX $113,917

Bradenton, FL $113,869

Santa Fe, NM $113,652

Orlando, FL $113,436

Clearwater, FL $113,400

Canton, OH $113,147

La Crosse, WI $113,147

Albuquerque, NM $113,075

Newport News, VA $113,063

High Point, NC $113,027

Ogden, UT $112,979

Corpus Christi, TX $112,883

Norfolk, VA $112,810

Laramie, WY $112,810

Rock Island, IL $112,738

Saginaw, MI $112,714

Jacksonville, FL $112,702

Salisbury, NC $112,678

Boise, ID $112,654

Moline, IL $112,594

Fort Myers, FL $112,558

Memphis, TN $112,534

Tulsa, OK $112,474

Waterloo, IA $112,402

Spartanburg, SC $112,281

Lincoln, NE $112,221

Fort Wayne, IN $112,197

Provo, UT $112,185

Cedar Falls, IA $112,041

San Antonio, TX $111,993

Greensboro, NC $111,945

South Bend, IN $111,932

Savannah, GA $111,800

Muskegon, MI $111,752

Birmingham, AL $111,740

Winston Salem, NC $111,681

Lake Charles, LA $111,391

Anderson, IN $111,367

Lexington, KY $111,331

Augusta, GA $111,295

Greenville, SC $111,295

Lima, OH $111,199

Wichita, KS $111,187

Tuscaloosa, AL $111,187

Columbia, SC $111,079

Springfield, OH $111,055

Asheville, NC $110,862

Bloomington, IN $110,778

Knoxville, TN $110,345

Shreveport, LA $110,333

Wilmington, NC $110,177

Roanoke, VA $110,177

Topeka, KS $109,960

Frankfort, KY $109,947

Oklahoma City, OK $109,864

Chillicothe, OH $109,816

Longview, TX $109,804

Melbourne, FL $109,792

Sioux Falls, SD $109,599

Mobile, AL $109,587

Terre Haute, IN $109,539

Altoona, PA $109,467

Amarillo, TX $109,383

Killeen, TX $109,347

Fayetteville, AR $109,251

Chattanooga, TN $109,214

Sioux City, IA $109,106

Idaho Falls, ID $109,082

Lynchburg, VA $108,986

Gainesville, FL $108,830

Portsmouth, OH $108,769

Little Rock, AR $108,745

Lafayette, LA $108,697

Youngstown, OH $108,697

Daytona Beach, FL $108,625

Clarksville, TN $108,613

Pensacola, FL $108,601

Temple, TX $108,593

Hopkinsville, KY $108,240

Erie, PA $108,216

Florence, SC $108,168

Charleston, WV $107,976

Great Falls, MT $107,916

Macon, GA $107,747

Tallahassee, FL $107,735

Fayetteville, NC $107,711

Waco, TX $107,687

Helena, MT $107,603

Pine Bluff, AR $107,557

Vincennes, IN $107,410

Lubbock, TX $107,362

Alamogordo, NM $107,290

Twin Falls, ID $107,182

Rapid City, SD $107,146

Jackson, MS $106,929

Huntington, WV $106,921

Greenville, MS $106,917

Parkersburg, WV $106,795

Montgomery, AL $106,773

Wichita Falls, TX $106,653

Springfield, MO $106,653

Biloxi, MS $106,593

Monroe, LA $106,472

Johnstown, PA $106,388

Sumter, SC $106,340

Columbus, GA $106,328

Pascagoula, MS $106,100

Abilene, TX $106,100

Kingsport, TN $105,787

Albany, GA $105,787

Gulfport, MS $105,751

Alexandria, LA $105,354

Fort Smith, AR $105,053

El Paso, TX $104,729

Las Cruces, NM $104,187

Harlingen, TX $103,882

Pocatello, ID $103,863

Florence, AL $103,706

Brownsville, TX $103,682

Mcallen, TX $103,430

Dothan, AL $103,261

Columbus, MS $102,547

Altus, OK $101,986

Lawton, OK $101,758

Pierre, SD $101,325

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

Optical Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $124,522. While startup companies pay approximate $105,385.

Optical Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$105,385
Growth Stage	51~500	$111,443
Established	501~5000	$120,261
Enterprise	5000+	$124,522

Optical Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Optical Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the MFG Nondurable and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Optical Engineer positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Optical Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Optical Engineer III

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable	$168,374	$81.0	40%
Construction	$156,347	$75.0	30%
Media	$150,334	$72.0	25%
Aerospace & Defense	$144,320	$69.0	20%
Hospitality & Leisure	$138,307	$66.0	15%

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

Understanding how an Optical 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.

$103,989

Average $110,855/year

$117,679

$8,666

Average $9,238/month

$9,807

$2,000

Average $2,132/week

$2,263

$50

Average $53/hour

$57

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$117,679	$9,807	$2,263	$57
Average	$110,855	$9,238	$2,132	$53
25th Percentile	$103,989	$8,666	$2,000	$50

Optical Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Optical Engineer III

Next Role

Advancement

Optical Engineer IV Optical Engineer V

For an Optical Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Optical Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $129,009 - a projected growth of 16% over your current level.

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Optical Engineer III Salary in Mansfield, SD

How much does an Optical Engineer III make in Mansfield, SD?

Key Factors That Influence Optical Engineer III Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Optical Engineer III Salaries?

Top Paying Cities for Optical Engineer III

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

Optical Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Optical Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for an Optical Engineer III

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

Optical Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Find Your Next Optical Engineer III Job

For Employees

For Employers

Cost of Living In Mansfield, SD

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Optical Engineer III Salary in Mansfield, SD

How much does an Optical Engineer III make in Mansfield, SD?

Key Factors That Influence Optical Engineer III Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Optical Engineer III Salaries?

Top Paying Cities for Optical Engineer III

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

Optical Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Optical Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for an Optical Engineer III

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

Optical Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Salaries of Jobs related to Optical Engineer IIIs

Find Your Next Optical Engineer III Job

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Cost of Living In Mansfield, SD

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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