As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Sterilization Engineer III in the United States is $110,386 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.
However, a Sterilization Engineer III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Sterilization Engineer III Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $128,412 | $10,701 | $2,469 | $62 |
| Average | $110,386 | $9,199 | $2,123 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $108,225 | $9,019 | $2,081 | $52 |
A Sterilization 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Sterilization 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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Sterilization Engineer III | $109,418 |
| Intermediate Level Sterilization Engineer III | $109,580 |
| Senior Level Sterilization Engineer III | $109,902 |
| Specialist Level Sterilization Engineer III | $113,615 |
| Expert Level Sterilization Engineer III | $119,803 |
Sterilization Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $123,571. While startup companies pay approximate $104,538.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $104,538 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $110,561 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $119,329 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $123,571 |
Understanding how a Sterilization 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $128,412 | $10,701 | $2,469 | $62 |
| Average | $110,386 | $9,199 | $2,123 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $108,225 | $9,019 | $2,081 | $52 |
Next Role
Advancement
For a Sterilization Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Sterilization Engineering Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $121,812 - a projected growth of 10% over your current level.
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
A Sterilization 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 Sterilization Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Sterilization Engineer III is $139,230.
The highest pay for Sterilization Engineer III is $144,824.
The lowest pay for Sterilization Engineer III is $106,258.
Develops and supports sterilization processes to ensure manufactured products meet quality, safety, and regulatory requirements. Designs, validates, and maintains sterilization processes using methods such as steam, ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide, or radiation. Performs process validation activities including IQ, OQ, and PQ in accordance with regulatory and quality standards. Analyzes sterilization data and investigates process deviations, nonconformances, and corrective actions. Collaborates with manufacturing, quality, and product development teams to support new product introductions and process changes. Maintains technical documentation, protocols, and reports to ensure compliance with internal procedures and external regulations. 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.
The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Sterilization Engineer III roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers: