As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Test Engineer III in the United States is $112,097 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.
However, a Test Engineer III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered HR
A Test 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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Test 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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Test Engineer I | 0-2 years | $71,093 |
| Test Engineer II | 2-4 years | $79,975 |
| Test Engineer III | 4-7 years | $112,097 |
| Test Engineer IV | 7+ years | $135,281 |
| Test Engineer V | 7-10 years | $147,692 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Test Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 7.75% |
| Python | 3% |
| Automated Testing | 2.08% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Python
|
$115,460 |
3%
|
|
Debugging
|
$115,460 |
3%
|
|
Networking
|
$115,460 |
3%
|
|
Linux
|
$114,339 |
2%
|
|
Collaboration
|
$114,339 |
2%
|
|
Innovation
|
$113,218 |
1%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Test Engineer IIIs enter the field with a Associate'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 Test Engineer III with a Associate's Degree is between $105,164 and $109,208).
Test Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.6% |
| High School | 1.2% |
| Associates | 6.8% |
| Bachelors | 52.4% |
| Masters | 35.4% |
| Doctorate | 3.3% |
Understanding how a Test 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 March 01, 2026For a Test Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Test Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $135,281 - a projected growth of 21% over your current level.
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation PlanningHere are companies hiring for Test Engineer III and their salaries, click below for more details.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Test Engineer III job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
A Test 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 Test Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Test Engineer III is $141,388.
The highest pay for Test Engineer III is $128,823.
The lowest pay for Test Engineer III is $96,982.
Interacts with other engineering groups to define, document, analyze, perform, and interpret tests for products, systems, components, or modifications. Identifies functional problems and suggests resolutions. Defines internal quality control standards and the maintenance of reliability programs. Documents and analyzes test cases and provides feedback and recommendations for product or design changes. Ensures testing procedures are in compliance with any required industry specific standards. Contributes to the development of improvements to overall testing and quality programs for improved results. May coordinate with vendors or suppliers to modify or develop testing for components or other parts. Requires a bachelor's degree of Engineering. Typically reports to a supervisor or 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.
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:
