Manufacturing Associate III Salary in the United States

How much does a Manufacturing Associate III make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Manufacturing Associate III in the United States is $53,251 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

However, a Manufacturing Associate III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $62,367
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,621 to $58,023
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,496

Key Factors That Influence Manufacturing Associate III Salaries

A Manufacturing Associate 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 Manufacturing Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Manufacturing Associate 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $42,552
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $54,424
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $60,774
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $67,087
  • Expert (over 8 years): $64,488
Levels Salary
Productio... Level Manufacturing Associate III$42,552
Manufactu... Level Manufacturing Associate III$54,424
Productio... Level Manufacturing Associate III$60,774
Productio... Level Manufacturing Associate III$67,087
Productio... Level Manufacturing Associate III$64,488

How Do Manufacturing Associate III 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 Manufacturing Associate IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $58,959.
  • California: $58,736.
  • Massachusetts: $57,953.

Top Paying Cities for Manufacturing Associate IIIs

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: $67,165
  • San Francisco: $66,430
  • Oakland: $65,030

What Skills Can Increase a Manufacturing Associate III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 4.69% 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.
  • Product Quality (Mentioned in 3.34% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
  • 5S (Mentioned in 1.93% Job Postings): Stands for sort, sustain, set in order, standardized and shine. 5 tips that are designed to achieve clean, uncluttered, safe, and well organized workplace for a more systematized work flow.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 4.69%
Product Quality 3.34%
5S 1.93%

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 Manufacturing Associate III's salary.

  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Scheduling $56,446
6%
Collaboration $55,381
4%
SOP $55,381
4%

Manufacturing Associate III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Manufacturing Associate III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Manufacturing Associate positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Manufacturing Associate III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Manufacturing Associate III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$69,226$33.030%
Financial Services$66,563$32.025%
Energy & Utilities$61,238$29.015%
Insurance$58,576$28.010%
Business Services$55,913$27.05%

How Education impacts a Manufacturing Associate III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Manufacturing Associate IIIs enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Manufacturing Associate III with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $44,344 and $47,881).

Manufacturing Associate III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Manufacturing Associate III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 36.4%
Associates 20.6%
Bachelors 37.4%
Masters 4.7%
Doctorate 0.0%

Manufacturing Associate III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Manufacturing Associate 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 September 01, 2026
$47,621
Average $53,251/year
$58,023
$3,968
Average $4,438/month
$4,835
$916
Average $1,024/week
$1,116
$23
Average $26/hour
$28
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $58,023 $4,835 $1,116 $28
Average $53,251 $4,438 $1,024 $26
25th Percentile $47,621 $3,968 $916 $23

Most common benefits for Manufacturing Associate III

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

Common company salaries for Manufacturing Associate III

Here are companies hiring for Manufacturing Associate III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Manufacturing Associate III

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Manufacturing Associate III?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Manufacturing Associate III roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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.)

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