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Production Maintenance Technician III Salary in the United States

How much does a Production Maintenance Technician III make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Production Maintenance Technician III in the United States is $70,842 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

However, a Production Maintenance Technician III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $85,854
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $64,359 to $78,700
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $58,457

Key Factors That Influence Production Maintenance Technician III Salaries

A Production Maintenance Technician 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 Production Maintenance Technician III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Production Maintenance Technician 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:

  • Production Maintenance Technician I (0-1 years): $50,257
  • Production Maintenance Technician II (1-3 years): $57,731
  • Production Maintenance Technician III (3-5 years): $70,842
  • Production Maintenance Supervisor (5+ years): $91,389
  • Production Maintenance Manager I (5+ years): $107,884
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Production Maintenance Technician I0-1 years$50,257
Production Maintenance Technician II1-3 years$57,731
Production Maintenance Technician III3-5 years$70,842
Production Maintenance Supervisor5+ years$91,389
Production Maintenance Manager I5+ years$107,884

How Do Production Maintenance Technician 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 Production Maintenance Technician IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $78,436.
  • California: $78,139.
  • Massachusetts: $77,097.

Top Paying Cities for Production Maintenance Technician 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: $89,353
  • San Francisco: $88,375
  • Oakland: $86,512

What Skills Can Increase a Production Maintenance Technician III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 12% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Welding (Mentioned in 4.08% Job Postings): Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by using high heat to melt the parts together and allowing them to cool causing fusion. Welding is distinct from lower temperature metal-joining techniques such as brazing and soldering, which do not melt the base metal. In addition to melting the base metal, a filler material is typically added to the joint to form a pool of molten material (the weld pool) that cools to form a joint that, based on weld configuration (butt, full penetration, fillet, etc.), can be stronger than the base material (parent metal). Pressure may also be used in conjunction with heat, or by itself, to produce a weld. Welding also requires a form of shield to protect the filler metals or melted metals from being contaminated or oxidized. Many different energy sources can be used for welding, including a gas flame (chemical), an electric arc (electrical), a laser, an electron beam, friction, and ultrasound. While often an industrial process, welding may be performed in many different environments, including in open air, under water, and in outer space. Welding is a hazardous undertaking and precautions are required to avoid burns, electric shock, vision damage, inhalation of poisonous gases and fumes, and exposure to intense ultraviolet radiation.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 1.86% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 12%
Welding 4.08%
Installation 1.86%

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 Production Maintenance Technician III's salary.

  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • OEM: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management $75,093
6%
SOP $73,676
4%
OEM $73,676
4%

Production Maintenance Technician III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Production Maintenance Technician III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $79,304. While startup companies pay approximate $67,089.

Production Maintenance Technician III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $67,089
Growth Stage 51~500 $70,954
Established 501~5000 $76,582
Enterprise 5000+ $79,304

Production Maintenance Technician III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Production Maintenance Technician III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 37% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Production Maintenance Technician positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Production Maintenance Technician III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Production Maintenance Technician III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$81,468$39.015%
Pharmaceuticals$81,468$39.015%
Insurance$79,343$38.012%
Business Services$77,926$37.010%
Energy & Utilities$77,926$37.010%

Production Maintenance Technician III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Production Maintenance Technician 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
$64,359
Average $70,842/year
$78,700
$5,363
Average $5,904/month
$6,558
$1,238
Average $1,362/week
$1,513
$31
Average $34/hour
$38
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $78,700 $6,558 $1,513 $38
Average $70,842 $5,904 $1,362 $34
25th Percentile $64,359 $5,363 $1,238 $31

Production Maintenance Technician III Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Production Maintenance Technician III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Production Maintenance Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $91,389 - a projected growth of 29% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Production Maintenance Technician III

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

Common company salaries for Production Maintenance Technician III

Here are companies hiring for Production Maintenance Technician III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Production Maintenance Technician III

1. Where can a Production Maintenance Technician III earn the most?

A Production Maintenance Technician 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 Production Maintenance Technician III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Production Maintenance Technician III is $89,353.

2. What is the highest pay for Production Maintenance Technician III?

The highest pay for Production Maintenance Technician III is $85,854.

3. What is the lowest pay for Production Maintenance Technician III?

The lowest pay for Production Maintenance Technician III is $58,457.

4. What are the responsibilities of Production Maintenance Technician III?

Performs preventive maintenance and skilled repairs on complex electrical and mechanical production equipment and systems. Follows standard procedures to monitor equipment for performance, safety, and effectiveness. Performs equipment failure analysis to complete preventive and unscheduled maintenance. Troubleshoots and diagnoses equipment problems. Logs equipment modifications and maintenance details in the designated system. Follows all safety procedures. 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 Production Maintenance Technician III?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Production Maintenance Technician III roles, with salaries approximately 15% 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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