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Production Technician III Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Production Technician III in the United States is $61,100 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $72,628
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,424 to $67,134
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,346
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Production Technician III Salaries

A Production 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Production Technician III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Production 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 Technician I (0-1 years): $42,790
  • Production Technician II (1-3 years): $54,718
  • Production Technician III (3-5 years): $61,100
  • Production Technician IV (5-7 years): $67,457
  • Production Team Leader (7+ years): $64,845
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Production Technician I0-1 years$42,790
Production Technician II1-3 years$54,718
Production Technician III3-5 years$61,100
Production Technician IV5-7 years$67,457
Production Team Leader7+ years$64,845
View as Graph

How Do Production 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 Technician IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $67,650.
  • California: $67,393.
  • Massachusetts: $66,495.

Top Paying Cities for Production 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: $77,065
  • San Francisco: $76,222
  • Oakland: $74,615

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 5.12% 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.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 3.47% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
  • 5S (Mentioned in 1.95% Job Postings): Stands for sort, sustain, set in order, standardized and shine. 5 tips that are designed to achieve clean, uncluttered, safe, and well organized workplace for a more systematized work flow.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 5.12%
Continuous Improvement 3.47%
5S 1.95%
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 Production Technician III's salary.

  • Billing: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Billing $69,654
14%
Scheduling $68,432
12%
Products and Services $65,988
8%
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Production Technician III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Production Technician III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $68,557. While startup companies pay approximate $58,015.

Production Technician III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $58,015
Growth Stage 51~500 $61,352
Established 501~5000 $66,208
Enterprise 5000+ $68,557

Production Technician III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Production Technician III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Production Technician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Production Technician III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Production Technician III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$79,430$38.030%
Aerospace & Defense$73,320$35.020%

How Education impacts an Production Technician III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Production Technician 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 Production Technician III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $52,465 and $56,638.

Production Technician III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Production Technician III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.0%
High School 24.5%
Associates 18.4%
Bachelors 51.0%
Masters 4.1%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Production 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
$54,424
Average $61,100/year
$67,134
$4,535
Average $5,092/month
$5,595
$1,047
Average $1,175/week
$1,291
$26
Average $29/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $67,134 $5,595 $1,291 $32
Average $61,100 $5,092 $1,175 $29
25th Percentile $54,424 $4,535 $1,047 $26

Production Technician III Salary Growth & Career Path

Production Technician III

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Production Technician III, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Processing Equipment Operations Supervisor $73,090 20%
Production Technician IV $67,457 10%

Most common benefits for Production Technician III

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

Common company salaries for Production Technician III

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

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FAQ about Production Technician III

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

A Production 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 Technician III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Production Technician III is $77,065.

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

The highest pay for Production Technician III is $72,628.

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

The lowest pay for Production Technician III is $48,346.

4. What are the responsibilities of Production Technician III?

Sets up and operates production equipment to manufacture, process, and assemble various commercial products and substances. Uses product specifications, blueprints, diagrams, and standard operating procedures (SOP) to produce products. Monitors output for quality and conformance to required metrics. Prepares and maintains required records of production activities and reports any inconsistencies or equipment issues. Follows established guidelines for safe material handling and protective gear. May require an associate degree in manufacturing technology or equivalent. 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 Technician III?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Production Technician III roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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