As of March 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Validation Engineer III in the United States is $55, which translates to an annual salary of about $114,482.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A Validation 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 Validation 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Validation Engineer I | 0-2 years | $79,290 |
| Validation Engineer II | 2-4 years | $96,841 |
| Validation Engineer III | 4-7 years | $114,482 |
| Validation Engineer IV | 7+ years | $138,474 |
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 Validation Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Project Management | 6.07% |
| Microsoft Office | 3.04% |
| Calibration | 2.13% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Analytical Skills
|
$119,061 |
4%
|
|
Critical Thinking
|
$117,916 |
3%
|
|
Integrity
|
$117,916 |
3%
|
|
Creativity and Innovation
|
$117,916 |
3%
|
|
Collaboration
|
$116,772 |
2%
|
|
Consulting
|
$116,772 |
2%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Validation 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 Validation Engineer III with a Associate's Degree is between $110,060 and $114,362).
Validation Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 4.3% |
| High School | 4.3% |
| Associates | 7.2% |
| Bachelors | 55.1% |
| Masters | 30.4% |
| Doctorate | 2.9% |
Understanding how a Validation 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, 2026
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Prepares all protocols and reports for validation work. Coordinates all validation activities by constant communication with affected departments and personnel; oversees and reviews validation area processes and procedures. May require a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. 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.
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.
Project Management: Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
Microsoft Office: Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Calibration: In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.
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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