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Technical Support Engineer III Salary in the United States

How much does a Technical Support Engineer III make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Technical Support Engineer III in the United States is $105,367 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

However, a Technical Support Engineer III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $125,923
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $94,456 to $116,127
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $84,522
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Technical Support Engineer III Salaries

A Technical 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 Technical Support Engineer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Technical 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:

  • Technical Support Engineer I (0-2 years): $66,428
  • Technical Support Engineer II (2-4 years): $79,784
  • Technical Support Engineer III (4-7 years): $105,367
  • Technical Support Engineer IV (7+ years): $122,511
  • Technical Support Engineer V (7-10 years): $150,640
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Technical Support Engineer I0-2 years$66,428
Technical Support Engineer II2-4 years$79,784
Technical Support Engineer III4-7 years$105,367
Technical Support Engineer IV7+ years$122,511
Technical Support Engineer V7-10 years$150,640
View as Graph

How Do Technical Support Engineer 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 Technical Support Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $116,662.
  • California: $116,220.
  • Massachusetts: $114,671.

Top Paying Cities for Technical Support Engineer 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: $132,899
  • San Francisco: $131,444
  • Oakland: $128,674

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 8.45% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.52% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
  • Technical Services (Mentioned in 1.66% Job Postings): Technical services are services that an IT organization provides to support business services or IT operations. Employee provisioning, backup and recovery, storage, and self-service help desk are examples of technical services
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 8.45%
Computer Science 2.52%
Technical Services 1.66%
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 Technical Support Engineer III's salary.

  • SQL: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
SQL $111,689
6%
Consulting $110,635
5%
Analysis $110,635
5%
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Technical Support Engineer III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Technical Support Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $117,952. While startup companies pay approximate $99,785.

Technical Support Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $99,785
Growth Stage 51~500 $105,534
Established 501~5000 $113,904
Enterprise 5000+ $117,952

Technical Support Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Technical Support Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Technical Support Engineer positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Technical Support Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Technical Support Engineer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$121,172$58.015%

How Education impacts an Technical Support Engineer III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Technical Support Engineer III enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Technical Support Engineer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $102,616 and $109,396.

Technical Support Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Technical Support Engineer III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 19.9%
Associates 14.3%
Bachelors 50.8%
Masters 13.0%
Doctorate 0.7%
View as Graph

Technical Support Engineer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Technical 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 August 01, 2026
$94,456
Average $105,367/year
$116,127
$7,871
Average $8,781/month
$9,677
$1,816
Average $2,026/week
$2,233
$45
Average $51/hour
$56
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $116,127 $9,677 $2,233 $56
Average $105,367 $8,781 $2,026 $51
25th Percentile $94,456 $7,871 $1,816 $45

Technical Support Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Technical Support Engineer III

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Advancement

For a Technical Support Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Technical Support Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $122,511 - a projected growth of 16% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Technical Support Engineer III

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

Common company salaries for Technical Support Engineer III

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

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FAQ about Technical Support Engineer III

1. Where can a Technical Support Engineer III earn the most?

A Technical Support 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 Technical Support Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Technical Support Engineer III is $132,899.

2. What is the highest pay for Technical Support Engineer III?

The highest pay for Technical Support Engineer III is $125,923.

3. What is the lowest pay for Technical Support Engineer III?

The lowest pay for Technical Support Engineer III is $84,522.

4. What are the responsibilities of Technical Support Engineer III?

Provides technical support to troubleshoot issues and engineer solutions for an organization's products or systems. Communicates with system users and stakeholders to define and isolate the issue and deliver technical solutions. Maintains IT infrastructure to ensure optimal function of software, hardware, and network systems. Documents bugs, fixes, and changes or updates to technical documentation for future reference. Creates diagnostic tools and performs regular testing to maintain and enhance overall system performance. 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.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Technical Support Engineer III?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Technical Support Engineer III roles, with salaries approximately 15% 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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