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Scrum Master III Salary in the United States

How much does a Scrum Master III make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Scrum Master III in the United States is $127,796 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $143,794
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $120,036 to $136,170
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $112,971
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Scrum Master III Salaries

A Scrum Master 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 Scrum Master III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Scrum Master 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:

  • Scrum Master I (0-2 years): $93,456
  • Scrum Master II (2-4 years): $110,137
  • Scrum Master III (4-7 years): $127,796
  • Scrum Master IV (7+ years): $141,341
  • Scrum Program Manager (7+ years): $142,330
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Scrum Master I0-2 years$93,456
Scrum Master II2-4 years$110,137
Scrum Master III4-7 years$127,796
Scrum Master IV7+ years$141,341
Scrum Program Manager7+ years$142,330
View as Graph

How Do Scrum Master 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 Scrum Master IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $141,496.
  • California: $140,959.
  • Massachusetts: $139,080.

Top Paying Cities for Scrum Master 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: $161,189
  • San Francisco: $159,424
  • Oakland: $156,064

What Skills Can Increase a Scrum Master III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 4.36% 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.
  • Lean (Mentioned in 1.21% Job Postings): Lean manufacturing, or lean production, is a system of techniques and activities for running a manufacturing or service operation.
  • Agile Development (Mentioned in 0.64% Job Postings): Managing software development projects by using a set of Agile methodologies, disciplines, practices, and techniques.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 4.36%
Lean 1.21%
Agile Development 0.64%
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 Scrum Master III's salary.

  • SDLC: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Continuous Integration: Can increase your salary by up to 1%.
  • Automated Testing: Can increase your salary by up to 1%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
SDLC $130,352
2%
Continuous Integration $129,074
1%
Automated Testing $129,074
1%
Get Latest Data

Scrum Master III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Scrum Master III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $143,060. While startup companies pay approximate $121,026.

Scrum Master III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $121,026
Growth Stage 51~500 $127,999
Established 501~5000 $138,150
Enterprise 5000+ $143,060

Scrum Master III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Scrum Master III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 53% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Scrum Master positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Scrum Master III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Scrum Master III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$166,135$80.030%
Biotechnology$159,745$77.025%
Business Services$153,355$74.020%
Chemicals$150,799$72.018%
Construction$146,965$71.015%

Scrum Master III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Scrum Master 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
$120,036
Average $127,796/year
$136,170
$10,003
Average $10,650/month
$11,348
$2,308
Average $2,458/week
$2,619
$58
Average $61/hour
$65
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $136,170 $11,348 $2,619 $65
Average $127,796 $10,650 $2,458 $61
25th Percentile $120,036 $10,003 $2,308 $58

Scrum Master III Salary Growth & Career Path

Scrum Master III

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Scrum Master 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
Scrum Master IV $141,341 11%
Scrum Product Owner IV $149,792 17%

Most common benefits for Scrum Master III

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

Common company salaries for Scrum Master III

Here are companies hiring for Scrum Master III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Scrum Master III

1. Where can a Scrum Master III earn the most?

A Scrum Master 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 Scrum Master III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Scrum Master III is $161,189.

2. What is the highest pay for Scrum Master III?

The highest pay for Scrum Master III is $143,794.

3. What is the lowest pay for Scrum Master III?

The lowest pay for Scrum Master III is $112,971.

4. What are the responsibilities of Scrum Master III?

Coordinates a cross-functional Agile development team utilizing the principles and tools of the Scrum Framework. Assumes a servant leadership role to support a self-organized team to complete Scrum projects. Identifies and removes impediments to progress. Facilitates sprint planning meetings, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, demos, and retrospectives. Identifies and manages the backlog. Supports, coaches and mentors team members. Tracks daily sprint progress and maintain schedules. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically requires Certified Scrum Master (CSM). Typically reports to a director. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Scrum Master III?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Scrum Master 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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