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Engineer III, Software Quality Salary in the United States

How much does an Engineer III, Software Quality make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Engineer III, Software Quality in the United States is $125,736 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $60.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $146,325
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $115,830 to $136,513
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $106,811
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Engineer III, Software Quality Salaries

An Engineer III, Software Quality'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 Engineer III, Software Quality Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Engineer III, Software Quality'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): $79,279
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $102,026
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $124,943
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $144,551
  • Expert (over 8 years): $166,177
Levels Salary
Software ... Level Engineer III, Software Quality$79,279
Software ... Level Engineer III, Software Quality$102,026
Engineer ... Level Engineer III, Software Quality$124,943
Software ... Level Engineer III, Software Quality$144,551
Software ... Level Engineer III, Software Quality$166,177
View as Graph

How Do Engineer III, Software Quality 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 Engineer III, Software Qualities. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $139,215.
  • California: $138,687.
  • Massachusetts: $136,838.

Top Paying Cities for Engineer III, Software Qualities

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: $158,591
  • San Francisco: $156,854
  • Oakland: $153,549

What Skills Can Increase an Engineer III, Software Quality's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.68% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Software Development (Mentioned in 4.7% Job Postings): Software development is the process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components. Software development is a process of writing and maintaining the source code, but in a broader sense, it includes all that is involved between the conception of the desired software through to the final manifestation of the software, sometimes in a planned and structured process. Therefore, software development may include research, new development, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, maintenance, or any other activities that result in software products. Software can be developed for a variety of purposes, the three most common being to meet specific needs of a specific client/business (the case with custom software), to meet a perceived need of some set of potential users (the case with commercial and open source software), or for personal use (e.g. a scientist may write software to automate a mundane task). Embedded software development, that is, the development of embedded software, such as used for controlling consumer products, requires the development process to be integrated with the development of the controlled physical product. System software underlies applications and the programming process itself, and is often developed separately.
  • Software Engineering (Mentioned in 2.8% Job Postings): Software engineering is the application of engineering to the development of software in a systematic method. Notable definitions of software engineering include: "the systematic application of scientific and technological knowledge, methods, and experience to the design, implementation, testing, and documentation of software"—The Bureau of Labor Statistics—IEEE Systems and software engineering - Vocabulary "The application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software"—IEEE Standard Glossary of Software Engineering Terminology "an engineering discipline that is concerned with all aspects of software production"—Ian Sommerville "the establishment and use of sound engineering principles in order to economically obtain software that is reliable and works efficiently on real machines"—Fritz Bauer
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.68%
Software Development 4.7%
Software Engineering 2.8%
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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 an Engineer III, Software Quality's salary.

  • Open Source: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Container: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Open Source $130,765
4%
Container $129,508
3%
Innovation $129,508
3%
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Engineer III, Software Quality Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Engineer III, Software Quality roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 27% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 14% above the average. In contrast, Engineer III, Software Quality positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Engineer III, Software Quality as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Engineer III, Software Quality

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$143,339$69.014%
Aerospace & Defense$140,824$68.012%
Internet$139,567$67.011%
Biotechnology$138,310$66.010%
Software & Networking$137,052$66.09%

How Education impacts an Engineer III, Software Quality's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Engineer III, Software Qualities enter the field with a Bachelor'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 an Engineer III, Software Quality with a Bachelor's Degree is between $122,135 and $128,293).

Engineer III, Software Quality Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Engineer III, Software Quality
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 2.0%
Associates 1.4%
Bachelors 46.1%
Masters 44.2%
Doctorate 6.0%
View as Graph

Engineer III, Software Quality Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Engineer III, Software Quality'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
$115,830
Average $125,736/year
$136,513
$9,653
Average $10,478/month
$11,376
$2,228
Average $2,418/week
$2,625
$56
Average $60/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $136,513 $11,376 $2,625 $66
Average $125,736 $10,478 $2,418 $60
25th Percentile $115,830 $9,653 $2,228 $56

Most common benefits for Engineer III, Software Quality

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

Common company salaries for Engineer III, Software Quality

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

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FAQ about Engineer III, Software Quality

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Engineer III, Software Quality?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Engineer III, Software Quality roles, with salaries approximately 14% 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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