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Hourly Wage for Validation Engineer III Salary in the United States

How much does a Validation Engineer III make hourly?

As of August 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 $114,505.

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): $64 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51 to $60 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Validation Engineer III Salaries

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.

How Experience Level Affects Validation Engineer III Salaries?

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:

  • Validation Engineer I (0-2 years): $79,316
  • Validation Engineer II (2-4 years): $96,851
  • Validation Engineer III (4-7 years): $114,505
  • Validation Engineer IV (7+ years): $138,508
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Validation Engineer I0-2 years$79,316
Validation Engineer II2-4 years$96,851
Validation Engineer III4-7 years$114,505
Validation Engineer IV7+ years$138,508
View as Graph

How Do Validation 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 Validation Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $126,780.
  • California: $126,299.
  • Massachusetts: $124,616.

Top Paying Cities for Validation 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: $144,425
  • San Francisco: $142,844
  • Oakland: $139,834

What Skills Can Increase a Validation Engineer III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 6.07% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 3.04% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 2.13% Job Postings): 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 6.07%
Microsoft Office 3.04%
Calibration 2.13%
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 Validation Engineer III's salary.

  • Analytical Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Critical Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Integrity: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analytical Skills $119,085
4%
Critical Thinking $117,940
3%
Integrity $117,940
3%
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Validation Engineer III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Validation Engineer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $128,509. While startup companies pay approximate $108,822.

Validation Engineer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $108,822
Growth Stage 51~500 $115,055
Established 501~5000 $124,128
Enterprise 5000+ $128,509

Validation Engineer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Validation Engineer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Validation Engineer positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Validation Engineer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Validation Engineer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$160,307$77.040%
Pharmaceuticals$148,856$72.030%
Software & Networking$143,131$69.025%
Energy & Utilities$137,406$66.020%
Telecom$131,681$63.015%

How Education impacts an Validation Engineer III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Validation 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 Validation Engineer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $110,402 and $114,740.

Validation Engineer III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Validation Engineer III
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%
View as Graph

Validation Engineer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

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 August 01, 2026
$106,467
Average $114,505/year
$124,010
$8,872
Average $9,542/month
$10,334
$2,047
Average $2,202/week
$2,385
$51
Average $55/hour
$60
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $124,010 $10,334 $2,385 $60
Average $114,505 $9,542 $2,202 $55
25th Percentile $106,467 $8,872 $2,047 $51

Most common benefits for Validation Engineer III

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

Common company salaries for Validation Engineer III

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

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FAQ about Validation Engineer III

1. What are the responsibilities of Validation Engineer III?

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.

2. What are the skills of Validation Engineer 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.)

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.

2.)

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.

3.)

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.

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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