What are the main factors that influence a Software Quality Assurance Engineer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Software Quality Assurance Engineer's salary?

A Software Quality Assurance Engineer's salary grows with experience: a Software Quality Assurance Engineer I (0-2 years)earns $82,076, a Software Quality Assurance Engineer (2-4 years)earns $105,374, a Software Quality Assurance Engineer III (4-7 years)earns $127,765, a Software Quality Assurance Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $147,522, a Software Quality Assurance Engineer V (7-10 years)earns $180,557,

What are the highest paying states for a Software Quality Assurance Engineer?

Software Quality Assurance Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Software Quality Assurance Engineer roles are District of Columbia $105,250, California $104,851, Massachusetts $103,453. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Software Quality Assurance Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Software Quality Assurance Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Chief of Software Quality Assurance: $191,200; Head of Software Quality Assurance: $191,163; Software Quality Assurance Director: $166,355; Software Quality Assurance Manager: $137,651; Software Quality Assurance Analyst IV: $131,440.

Software Quality Assurance Engineer Salary in District of Columbia

How much does a Software Quality Assurance Engineer make in District of Columbia?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Software Quality Assurance Engineer in District of Columbia is $105,801 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $122,879
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $95,847 to $114,740
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $86,784

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

AI-Powered Talent

AI-Powered HR

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Software Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$114,740	$9,562	$2,207	$55
Average	$105,801	$8,817	$2,035	$51
25th Percentile	$95,847	$7,987	$1,843	$46

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Software Quality Assurance Engineer Job Openings in District of Columbia

Software Quality Assurance Engineer and Tester (Senior) with Security Clearance

CACI - Washington, DC

Quality Assurance Engineer SME with Security Clearance

TekSynap - Washington, DC

Senior IT Project Manager - Software Quality Assurance with Security Clearance

ManTech International - Washington, DC

QUALITY ASSURANCE ENGINEER SME WITH SECURITY CLEARANCE

TekSynap - Washington, DC

Search More Software Quality Assurance Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia

Key Factors That Influence Software Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries

A Software Quality Assurance Engineer'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.

How Experience Level Affects Software Quality Assurance Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Quality Assurance Engineer'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): $82,076
Early Career (1-2 years): $105,374
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $127,765
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $147,522
Expert (over 8 years): $180,557

Levels	Salary
Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance Engineer	$82,076
Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance Engineer	$105,374
Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance Engineer	$127,765
Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance Engineer	$147,522
Software ... Level Software Quality Assurance Engineer	$180,557

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Software Quality Assurance Engineer 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 Software Quality Assurance Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $105,250.
California: $104,851.
Massachusetts: $103,453.

District of Columbia $105,250 California $104,851 Massachusetts $103,453 Washington $103,073 New Jersey $103,035 Alaska $102,902 Connecticut $101,590 New York $101,058

Hawaii $99,356 Rhode Island $98,558 Maryland $98,016 Minnesota $97,274 Colorado $96,989 Illinois $96,894 Oregon $96,533 Delaware $96,267

New Hampshire $96,099 Virginia $95,725 Pennsylvania $94,632 Nevada $94,080 North Dakota $93,900 Michigan $93,615 Wisconsin $93,510 Vermont $93,301

Texas $92,721 Maine $92,683 Arizona $92,626 Ohio $92,559 Georgia $91,685 Indiana $91,248 Wyoming $91,162 Utah $91,029

Iowa $90,972 Kansas $90,516 Louisiana $90,382 North Carolina $90,335 Missouri $90,316 Florida $89,945 Montana $89,746 Nebraska $89,555

Kentucky $89,451 South Carolina $89,071 Tennessee $88,833 Idaho $88,738 New Mexico $88,044 Oklahoma $87,892 Alabama $87,331 South Dakota $86,390

Arkansas $85,877 West Virginia $85,601 Mississippi $84,774

Top Paying Cities for Software Quality Assurance Engineers

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:

Parcel Return Service: $105,250
Washington: $105,250
Naval Anacost Annex: $105,250

Parcel Return Service, DC $105,250 Washington, DC $105,250 Naval Anacost Annex, DC $105,250 Washington Navy Yard, DC $105,250

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

Understanding how a Software Quality Assurance Engineer'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 May 18, 2021

$95,847

Average $105,801/year

$114,740

$7,987

Average $8,817/month

$9,562

$1,843

Average $2,035/week

$2,207

$46

Average $51/hour

$55

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$114,740	$9,562	$2,207	$55
Average	$105,801	$8,817	$2,035	$51
25th Percentile	$95,847	$7,987	$1,843	$46

Salaries of jobs related to Software Quality Assurance Engineer

Find Your Next Software Quality Assurance Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Software Quality Assurance Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

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.

For Employers

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.

Cost of Living In District of Columbia

Cost of Living in District of Columbia is

11.3% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about