The salary of a Software Engineer III in the United States varies depending on several factors, including experience, location, education level, marketing trend and company sizes.
As of May 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Software Engineer III in the United States is $127,487. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $117,085 to $139,243, with most professionals earning between $107,615 and $149,946.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $139,243 | $11,604 | $2,678 | $67 |
| Average | $127,487 | $10,624 | $2,452 | $61 |
| 25th Percentile | $117,085 | $9,757 | $2,252 | $56 |
An entry-level Software Engineer III with less than 1 year of experience earns about $122,829. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $123,606. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $125,158. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $130,996, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $134,155.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Software Engineer III | $122,829 |
| Intermediate Level Software Engineer III | $123,606 |
| Senior Level Software Engineer III | $125,158 |
| Specialist Level Software Engineer III | $130,996 |
| Expert Level Software Engineer III | $134,155 |
| Entry Level | 4% |
| Mid Level | 3% |
| Senior Level | 2% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 5% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of May 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Software Engineer III compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $126,969 in 2023 to approximately $127,220 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Software Engineer III salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Software Engineer III information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Software Engineer III job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Software Engineer III and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $127,487 | 67.4% | ||
| Bonus | $9,939 | 5.3% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $10,513 | 5.6% | ||
| 401K/403B | $5,772 | 3.1% | ||
| Disability | $2,749 | 1.5% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 4.4% | ||
| Pension | $7,421 | 3.9% | ||
| Time Off | $16,914 | 8.9% | ||
| Total Compensation | $189,147 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.3% |
| High School | 2.0% |
| Associates | 1.4% |
| Bachelors | 46.1% |
| Masters | 44.2% |
| Doctorate | 6.0% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Software Engineer III is $127,487. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Software Engineer III is $61; the average weekly pay of Software Engineer III is $2,452; the average monthly pay of Software Engineer III is $10,624.
A Software 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 Software Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Software Engineer III is $160,799.
The highest pay for Software Engineer III is $149,946.
The lowest pay for Software Engineer III is $107,615.
Designs and develops software applications. Performs coding, debugging, testing and troubleshooting throughout the application development process. May direct a few junior level software engineers. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. 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.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
JavaScript: Using JavaScript in the development and maintenance of Web-based application systems.
Software Engineering: Software engineering is the application of engineering to the development of software in a systematic method. Notable definitions of software engineering include: "the systematic application of scientific and technological knowledge, methods, and experience to the design, implementation, testing, and documentation of software"—The Bureau of Labor Statistics—IEEE Systems and software engineering - Vocabulary "The application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software"—IEEE Standard Glossary of Software Engineering Terminology "an engineering discipline that is concerned with all aspects of software production"—Ian Sommerville "the establishment and use of sound engineering principles in order to economically obtain software that is reliable and works efficiently on real machines"—Fritz Bauer
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.
