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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 March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Production Technician III in the United States is $61,022 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): $72,573
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,376 to $67,068
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,325
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View as table View as graph 25% $54,376 10% $48,325 90% $72,573 75% $67,068 $61,022 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Production Technician III Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $67,068 $5,589 $1,290 $32
Average $61,022 $5,085 $1,174 $29
25th Percentile $54,376 $4,531 $1,046 $26
Check out Production Technician III Job Openings in the United States
Entertainment Production Technician

Carowinds - CONCORD, NC

Entertainment Production Technician

Carowinds - MARVIN, NC

Entertainment Production Technician

Carowinds - GASTONIA, NC

Production Equipment Technician

HEPCO, Inc. - BRENTWOOD, NY

Search More Production Technician III Jobs in the United States

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 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): $42,783
  • Production Technician II (1-3 years): $54,662
  • Production Technician III (3-5 years): $61,022
  • Production Technician IV (5-7 years): $67,417
  • Production Team Leader (7+ years): $64,817
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Production Technician I0-1 years$42,783
Production Technician II1-3 years$54,662
Production Technician III3-5 years$61,022
Production Technician IV5-7 years$67,417
Production Team Leader7+ years$64,817
$42,783 Productio...
$54,662 Productio...
$61,022 Productio...
$67,417 Productio...
$64,817 Productio...
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Production Technician 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 Production Technician IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $67,564.
  • California: $67,307.
  • Massachusetts: $66,410.

Top Paying Cities for Production Technician 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: $76,967
  • San Francisco: $76,210
  • Oakland: $74,520

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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 5.12%
Continuous Improvement 3.47%
5S 1.95%
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
$69,565
14%
Scheduling
$68,345
12%
Products and Services
$65,904
8%
Process Improvement
$65,294
7%
Leadership
$64,683
6%
Verbal Communication
$64,683
6%
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How Education impacts a Production Technician III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Production Technician IIIs enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Production Technician III with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $51,850 and $55,935).

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%
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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 March 01, 2026

Production Technician III Salary Growth & Career Path

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.

Production Technician III Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Processing Equipment Operations Supervisor $73,095 20%
Production Technician IV $67,417 10%

Most common benefits for Production Technician III

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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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 $76,967.

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

The highest pay for Production Technician III is $72,573.

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

The lowest pay for Production Technician III is $48,325.

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.

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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