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Packaging Engineer III Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Packaging Engineer III in the United States is $105,094 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $125,473
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $95,454 to $115,761
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $86,677

Key Factors That Influence Packaging Engineer III Salaries

A Packaging 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 Packaging Engineer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Packaging 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:

  • Packaging Engineer I (0-2 years): $77,589
  • Packaging Engineer II (2-4 years): $88,467
  • Packaging Engineer III (4-7 years): $105,094
  • Packaging Engineer IV (7+ years): $129,529
  • Packaging Engineer V (7-10 years): $162,469
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Packaging Engineer I0-2 years$77,589
Packaging Engineer II2-4 years$88,467
Packaging Engineer III4-7 years$105,094
Packaging Engineer IV7+ years$129,529
Packaging Engineer V7-10 years$162,469

Top Paying Cities for Packaging 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: $132,555
  • San Francisco: $131,104
  • Oakland: $128,341

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 2.52% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • SOP (Mentioned in 1.29% Job Postings): SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
  • Packaging Engineering (Mentioned in 0.84% Job Postings): Packaging engineering, also package engineering, packaging technology and packaging science, is a broad topic ranging from design conceptualization to product placement. All steps along the manufacturing process, and more, must be taken into account in the design of the package for any given product. Package engineering is an interdisciplinary field integrating science, engineering, technology and management to protect and identify products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. It encompasses the process of design, evaluation, and production of packages. It is a system integral to the value chain that impacts product quality, user satisfaction, distribution efficiencies, and safety. includes industry-specific aspects of industrial engineering, marketing, materials science, industrial design and logistics. Packaging engineers must interact with research and development, manufacturing, marketing, graphic design, regulatory, purchasing, planning and so on. The package must sell and protect the product, while maintaining an efficient, cost-effective process cycle.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 2.52%
SOP 1.29%
Packaging Engineering 0.84%

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 Packaging Engineer III's salary.

  • Use Cases: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Hard Working: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Use Cases $120,858
15%
Hard Working $111,400
6%
Accountability $109,298
4%

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

Packaging Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $117,647. While startup companies pay approximate $99,526.

Packaging Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $99,526
Growth Stage 51~500 $105,261
Established 501~5000 $113,609
Enterprise 5000+ $117,647

Packaging Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Packaging Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 95% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Packaging Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Packaging Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Packaging Engineer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$147,132$71.040%
Software & Networking$141,877$68.035%
Financial Services$136,622$66.030%
Internet$131,368$63.025%
Pharmaceuticals$126,113$61.020%

How Education impacts an Packaging Engineer III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Packaging 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 Packaging Engineer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $109,785 and $114,544.

Packaging Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Packaging Engineer III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.1%
High School 4.1%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 63.3%
Masters 28.6%
Doctorate 2.0%

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

Understanding how a Packaging 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
$95,454
Average $105,094/year
$115,761
$7,955
Average $8,758/month
$9,647
$1,836
Average $2,021/week
$2,226
$46
Average $51/hour
$56
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $115,761 $9,647 $2,226 $56
Average $105,094 $8,758 $2,021 $51
25th Percentile $95,454 $7,955 $1,836 $46

Packaging Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Packaging Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Packaging Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $129,529 - a projected growth of 23% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Packaging Engineer III

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

Common company salaries for Packaging Engineer III

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

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FAQ about Packaging Engineer III

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

A Packaging 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 Packaging Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Packaging Engineer III is $132,555.

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

The highest pay for Packaging Engineer III is $125,473.

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

The lowest pay for Packaging Engineer III is $86,677.

4. What are the responsibilities of Packaging Engineer III?

Designs product packaging to ensure product integrity and appeal under varying shipping and display conditions. Tests, analyzes, and selects materials for packaging based on durability and cost effectiveness. Evaluates the effectiveness of new package designs and ensures compliance with all requirements and regulations. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager or head of unit/department. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Typically requires 4 to 7 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Packaging Engineer III?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Packaging Engineer III roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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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