As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Digital Design Engineer III in the United States is $127,448 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.
However, a Digital Design Engineer III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
AI Onboarding
A Digital Design 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Digital Design 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Design Engineer I | 0-2 years | $81,239 |
| Digital Design Engineer II | 2-4 years | $102,233 |
| Digital Design Engineer III | 4-7 years | $127,448 |
| Digital Design Engineer IV | 7+ years | $161,170 |
| Digital Design Engineer V | 7-10 years | $190,926 |
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 Digital Design Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 10.53% |
| Perl | 4.05% |
| Algorithms | 2.43% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Perl
|
$138,918 |
9%
|
|
ARM
|
$138,918 |
9%
|
|
Cadence
|
$137,644 |
8%
|
|
Digital Design
|
$135,095 |
6%
|
|
Scripting Language
|
$135,095 |
6%
|
|
Semiconductors
|
$135,095 |
6%
|
Understanding how a Digital Design 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 April 01, 2026For a Digital Design Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Digital Design Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $161,170 - a projected growth of 26% over your current level.
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation PlanningHere are companies hiring for Digital Design Engineer III and their salaries, click below for more details.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Digital Design Engineer III job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
A Digital Design Engineer III's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Digital Design Engineer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Digital Design Engineer III is $160,750.
The highest pay for Digital Design Engineer III is $143,190.
The lowest pay for Digital Design Engineer III is $108,521.
Responsible for the digital design of integrated circuits and related development. Participates in all phases of physical design including floor planning, clock synthesis, timing optimization and signal integrity. Generates functional and design specifications, defines module interfaces, conducts design reviews and participates in design implementation. Requires knowledge of tools such as BIST, Verilog, IDDQ, and IC Design scripting language. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
