Engineering Technician 3 pay range
State of Washington · class code 538I
- Class code
- 538I
- Salary range
- 53
- Pay unit
- Year
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Engineering Technician 3 is $59,760 to $80,496 per year.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 538I.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Step progression
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) assigns this class to salary range 53 in the General Service Salary Schedule. The range pays 13 steps; a step is normally earned on a periodic increment date, not negotiated.
| Basis | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $59,760 | $61,332 | $62,880 | $64,512 | $66,072 | $67,704 | $69,348 | $71,136 | $72,900 | $74,748 | $76,608 | $78,504 | $80,496 |
| Monthly | $4,980 | $5,111 | $5,240 | $5,376 | $5,506 | $5,642 | $5,779 | $5,928 | $6,075 | $6,229 | $6,384 | $6,542 | $6,708 |
| Hourly | $28.62 | $29.37 | $30.11 | $30.90 | $31.64 | $32.43 | $33.21 | $34.07 | $34.91 | $35.80 | $36.69 | $37.60 | $38.55 |
Steps as published. The monthly and hourly rows are the state's own, not conversions of the annual row.
Class specification
The OFM classified job specification for this class is published by Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM). The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications.
What the state says the job is
Performs complex engineering technician work designing, developing, manufacturing, assembling, installing, calibrating, and repairing instruments, apparatus and equipment within a scientific, instructional or engineering application.
Examples of the work
Consults with engineers, scientists, faculty, or staff on the design and fabrication of various apparatus such as mechanical, agricultural, electro-mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electronic apparatus; determine choice of materials, etc.; Following general description of functions from engineers or scientists, independently design complete systems, peripherals for existing systems, or modifications to existing equipment; design computer programs to control, acquire, store, and display data; design analog and/or digital interface(s); perform skilled and precision machine tool work constructing instruments and systems; Estimates equipment needs for shop; evaluate and recommend the purchas ...
Minimum qualifications
One year of experience as an Engineering Technician 2 OR Five years of experience as an engineering technician Equivalent education/experience.
Quoted from the OFM classified job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) publishes this figure in Classified Job Listing joined to the OFM salary schedules effective July 1, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The dollar figures come from the salary schedule the listing assigns this range to.
Nearby classes in Washington
Engineering Technician 3 in other states
| State | Minimum | Maximum | Per year at full time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $38,168 | $68,682 | $38,168 to $68,682 |
Each state publishes its own range for a classification with this exact title. Duties, grade structures and bargaining units differ between states, so read each class page before comparing.