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Hourly Wage for Software Support Engineer III Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Software Support Engineer III?

As of February 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Software Support Engineer III in the United States is $54, which translates to an annual salary of about $113,083.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $64 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50 to $60 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47 per hour
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View as table View as graph 25% $50 10% $47 90% $64 75% $60 $54 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Support Engineer III Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $123,891 $10,324 $2,383 $60
Average $113,083 $9,424 $2,175 $54
25th Percentile $104,651 $8,721 $2,013 $50
Check out Software Support Engineer III Job Openings in the United States
Software Engineer III

MELE Associates, Inc. - ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Software Engineer III

ClearEdge IT Solutions LLC - ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, MD

Software Engineer III

ClearEdge IT Solutions LLC - ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, MD

Software Engineer III

Noblis - CHANTILLY, VA

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Key Factors That Influence Software Support Engineer III Salaries

A Software Support Engineer 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 Software Support Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Support Engineer 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:

  • Software Support Engineer I (0-2 years): $69,480
  • Software Support Engineer II (2-4 years): $83,291
  • Software Support Engineer III (4-7 years): $113,083
  • Software Support Manager (7+ years): $127,288
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Software Support Engineer I0-2 years$69,480
Software Support Engineer II2-4 years$83,291
Software Support Engineer III4-7 years$113,083
Software Support Manager7+ years$127,288
$69,480 Software ...
$83,291 Software ...
$113,083 Software ...
$127,288 Software ...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Software Support Engineer 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: $142,632
  • San Francisco: $141,229
  • Oakland: $138,097

What Skills Can Increase a Software Support Engineer III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.87% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Java (Mentioned in 3.57% Job Postings): Using Java in the development and maintenance of application programs and systems.
  • KPI (Mentioned in 2.61% Job Postings): KPI stands for key performance indicator, a quantifiable measure of performance over time for a specific objective.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.87%
Java 3.57%
KPI 2.61%
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 Software Support Engineer III's salary.
  • Scripting Language: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Open Source: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Scripting Language
$122,130
8%
AWS
$122,130
8%
Open Source
$120,999
7%
Unix
$119,868
6%
Kubernetes
$118,737
5%
Java
$118,737
5%
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How Education impacts a Software Support Engineer III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Software Support Engineer IIIs enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Software Support Engineer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $100,779 and $107,642).

Software Support Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software Support Engineer III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 7.4%
Associates 8.7%
Bachelors 57.3%
Masters 23.2%
Doctorate 2.8%
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Software Support Engineer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Support Engineer 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 February 01, 2026

Most common benefits for Software Support Engineer III

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Software Support Engineer III

Here are companies hiring for Software Support Engineer III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Software Support Engineer III

1. What are the responsibilities of Software Support Engineer III?

Troubleshoots and develops technical solutions related to software and setup errors for field engineers, technicians, and customers. Creates workaround procedures when standard procedures have failed and ensures issues are resolved in a timely fashion. Escalates urgent problems requiring more in-depth knowledge to appropriate internal resources. Requires a bachelor's degree in area of specialty. Typically reports to a manager. Typically requires 4 to 7 years of related experience. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature.

2. What are the skills of Software Support Engineer III

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.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

Java: Using Java in the development and maintenance of application programs and systems.

3.)

KPI: KPI stands for key performance indicator, a quantifiable measure of performance over time for a specific objective.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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