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Hourly Wage for Software Systems Developer III Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Software Systems Developer III?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Software Systems Developer III in the United States is $62, which translates to an annual salary of about $128,727.

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): $69 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57 to $66 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $52 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Software Systems Developer III Salaries

A Software Systems Developer 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 Software Systems Developer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Systems Developer 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 Systems Developer I (0-2 years): $79,844
  • Software Systems Developer II (2-4 years): $109,714
  • Software Systems Developer III (4-7 years): $128,727
  • Software Systems Developer IV (7+ years): $143,184
  • Software Systems Developer V (7-10 years): $165,981
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Software Systems Developer I0-2 years$79,844
Software Systems Developer II2-4 years$109,714
Software Systems Developer III4-7 years$128,727
Software Systems Developer IV7+ years$143,184
Software Systems Developer V7-10 years$165,981
View as Graph

How Do Software Systems Developer 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 Software Systems Developer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $142,527.
  • California: $141,986.
  • Massachusetts: $140,094.

Top Paying Cities for Software Systems Developer 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: $162,363
  • San Francisco: $160,586
  • Oakland: $157,201

What Skills Can Increase a Software Systems Developer III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 3.76% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Programming (Mentioned in 3.79% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
  • SQL (Mentioned in 2.54% Job Postings): Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system (RDBMS), or for stream processing in a relational data stream management system (RDSMS).
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 3.76%
Programming 3.79%
SQL 2.54%
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 Software Systems Developer III's salary.

  • Microservices: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Kubernetes: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Microservices $137,738
7%
Commitment $135,163
5%
Kubernetes $133,876
4%
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Software Systems Developer III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Software Systems Developer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $143,858. While startup companies pay approximate $121,689.

Software Systems Developer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $121,689
Growth Stage 51~500 $128,698
Established 501~5000 $138,913
Enterprise 5000+ $143,858

Software Systems Developer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Software Systems Developer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Software Systems Developer positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software Systems Developer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Software Systems Developer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$154,472$74.020%
Financial Services$154,472$74.020%
Pharmaceuticals$154,472$74.020%
Software & Networking$154,472$74.020%
Telecom$154,472$74.020%

Software Systems Developer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Systems Developer 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 September 01, 2026
$117,596
Average $128,727/year
$136,775
$9,800
Average $10,727/month
$11,398
$2,261
Average $2,476/week
$2,630
$57
Average $62/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $136,775 $11,398 $2,630 $66
Average $128,727 $10,727 $2,476 $62
25th Percentile $117,596 $9,800 $2,261 $57

Most common benefits for Software Systems Developer III

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

Common company salaries for Software Systems Developer III

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

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FAQ about Software Systems Developer III

1. What are the responsibilities of Software Systems Developer III?

Designs, analyzes, maintains, and tests software systems. Identifies and analyzes users' needs and preferences. Responsible for troubleshooting and resolving problems. Corrects programming errors, codes systems enhancements, and makes recommendations for improvements based on the findings. Stays current on emerging trends and software systems development best practices. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Software Systems Developer 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.)

Leadership: Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.

2.)

Programming: Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.

3.)

SQL: Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system (RDBMS), or for stream processing in a relational data stream management system (RDSMS).

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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