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Mechanic III Salary in the United States

How much does a Mechanic III make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Mechanic III in the United States is $108,231 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $123,715
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $100,930 to $116,336
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $94,283
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Mechanic III Salaries

A Mechanic 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 Mechanic Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Mechanic 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): $78,983
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $93,137
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $107,635
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $128,253
  • Expert (over 8 years): $147,566
Levels Salary
Mechanica... Level Mechanic III$78,983
Mechanica... Level Mechanic III$93,137
Mechanic ... Level Mechanic III$107,635
Mechanica... Level Mechanic III$128,253
Mechanica... Level Mechanic III$147,566
View as Graph

How Do Mechanic 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 Mechanic IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $119,833.
  • California: $119,379.
  • Massachusetts: $117,788.

Top Paying Cities for Mechanic 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: $136,512
  • San Francisco: $135,017
  • Oakland: $132,172

What Skills Can Increase a Mechanic III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 9% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Design Engineering (Mentioned in 2.54% Job Postings): Creating a system, component, or process to develop new products and systems.
  • AutoCAD (Mentioned in 1.84% Job Postings): AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 9%
Design Engineering 2.54%
AutoCAD 1.84%
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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 a Mechanic III's salary.

  • Prototyping: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Computer Vision: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Salesforce: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Prototyping $112,560
4%
Computer Vision $112,560
4%
Salesforce $111,478
3%
Get Latest Data

Mechanic III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Mechanic III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Mechanic positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Mechanic III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Mechanic III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$129,877$62.020%
Biotechnology$129,877$62.020%
Business Services$129,877$62.020%
Chemicals$129,877$62.020%
Construction$129,877$62.020%

How Education impacts a Mechanic III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Mechanic IIIs 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 a Mechanic III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $110,889 and $116,664).

Mechanic III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Mechanic III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 0.4%
Associates 1.6%
Bachelors 48.7%
Masters 38.9%
Doctorate 10.3%
View as Graph

Mechanic III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Mechanic 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
$100,930
Average $108,231/year
$116,336
$8,411
Average $9,019/month
$9,695
$1,941
Average $2,081/week
$2,237
$49
Average $52/hour
$56
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $116,336 $9,695 $2,237 $56
Average $108,231 $9,019 $2,081 $52
25th Percentile $100,930 $8,411 $1,941 $49

Most common benefits for Mechanic III

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

Common company salaries for Mechanic III

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

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FAQ about Mechanic III

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Mechanic III?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Mechanic III roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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