Technology68% remote-eligible+3% YoY growth

QA Engineer Salary
by City (2026)

Design and execute test plans to ensure software quality and reliability. National median: $95K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$95K

Top 10% earn

$158K

Entry level

$70K

Salary growth

+3%/yr

QA Engineer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$116K	$157K	$206K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$111K	$150K	$198K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$104K	$141K	$185K	185	9.3%
New York City, NY	$104K	$141K	$186K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$103K	$140K	$185K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$103K	$140K	$185K	185	11%
Seattle, WA	$99K	$135K	$178K	150	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$100K	$135K	$178K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$98K	$134K	$176K	172	9.3%
Washington, DC	$98K	$133K	$175K	152	8.5%
Boston, MA	$97K	$131K	$173K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$97K	$131K	$173K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$96K	$130K	$171K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$96K	$130K	$171K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$95K	$129K	$169K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$95K	$128K	$169K	163	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$95K	$128K	$169K	148	5.75%
Stamford, CT	$93K	$126K	$166K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$92K	$125K	$165K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$92K	$125K	$164K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$91K	$124K	$163K	148	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$90K	$122K	$160K	155	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$90K	$122K	$161K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$89K	$121K	$160K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$89K	$121K	$160K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$88K	$120K	$158K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$88K	$120K	$158K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$86K	$117K	$154K	140	10.75%
Austin, TX	$85K	$116K	$153K	110	None ✓
Chula Vista, CA	$86K	$116K	$153K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$85K	$116K	$153K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$86K	$116K	$153K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$86K	$116K	$153K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$83K	$112K	$148K	128	9.3%
Tacoma, WA	$83K	$112K	$148K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$83K	$112K	$148K	118	4.55%
Plano, TX	$81K	$109K	$144K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$81K	$109K	$144K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$81K	$109K	$144K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$81K	$109K	$144K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$81K	$109K	$144K	105	4.85%
Baltimore, MD	$81K	$109K	$144K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$81K	$109K	$144K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$80K	$108K	$142K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$79K	$107K	$141K	120	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$78K	$106K	$140K	96	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$78K	$106K	$140K	108	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$78K	$106K	$139K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$78K	$106K	$139K	118	9.3%
Miami, FL	$78K	$106K	$140K	123	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$78K	$106K	$139K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$78K	$106K	$139K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$78K	$106K	$139K	118	5%
Durham, NC	$78K	$106K	$140K	100	4.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$78K	$106K	$140K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$78K	$106K	$140K	106	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$78K	$106K	$139K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$78K	$106K	$139K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$78K	$106K	$139K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$78K	$106K	$139K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$78K	$106K	$139K	118	5.99%
Aurora, CO	$77K	$105K	$138K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$77K	$105K	$138K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$77K	$105K	$138K	102	4.75%
Provo, UT	$77K	$105K	$138K	100	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$77K	$105K	$138K	118	6.99%
Anchorage, AK	$77K	$105K	$138K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$77K	$104K	$137K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$77K	$104K	$137K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$77K	$104K	$137K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$77K	$104K	$137K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$77K	$104K	$137K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$77K	$104K	$137K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$77K	$104K	$137K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$77K	$104K	$137K	115	5.99%
Irving, TX	$76K	$103K	$135K	97	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$76K	$103K	$135K	118	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$76K	$103K	$135K	112	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$76K	$103K	$135K	105	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$76K	$103K	$135K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$76K	$103K	$135K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$76K	$103K	$135K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$75K	$102K	$134K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$74K	$101K	$133K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$74K	$101K	$133K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$74K	$101K	$133K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$74K	$101K	$133K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$74K	$101K	$133K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$74K	$101K	$133K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$74K	$100K	$131K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$74K	$100K	$131K	93	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$74K	$100K	$131K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$74K	$100K	$131K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$74K	$100K	$131K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$74K	$100K	$131K	102	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$74K	$100K	$131K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$74K	$100K	$131K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$73K	$99K	$130K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$73K	$99K	$130K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$73K	$99K	$130K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$73K	$99K	$130K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$73K	$99K	$130K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$72K	$98K	$128K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$72K	$98K	$128K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$71K	$97K	$128K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$71K	$97K	$128K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$71K	$97K	$127K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$71K	$97K	$127K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$71K	$97K	$128K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$71K	$97K	$127K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$71K	$97K	$127K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$71K	$97K	$127K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$71K	$97K	$127K	100	4.85%
Huntsville, AL	$71K	$97K	$128K	88	5%
Overland Park, KS	$71K	$97K	$127K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$71K	$97K	$127K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$70K	$96K	$126K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$70K	$96K	$126K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$70K	$96K	$126K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$70K	$96K	$126K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$70K	$96K	$126K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$70K	$96K	$126K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$70K	$96K	$126K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$70K	$96K	$126K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$70K	$96K	$126K	98	7.15%
St. Petersburg, FL	$70K	$95K	$125K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$70K	$95K	$125K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$70K	$95K	$125K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$70K	$95K	$125K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$70K	$95K	$125K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$70K	$95K	$125K	105	6.5%
Bakersfield, CA	$69K	$94K	$124K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$69K	$94K	$124K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$69K	$94K	$124K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$69K	$94K	$124K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$69K	$94K	$124K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$69K	$94K	$124K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$69K	$94K	$124K	95	6.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$69K	$93K	$123K	102	4.55%
Virginia Beach, VA	$69K	$93K	$123K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$69K	$93K	$123K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$69K	$93K	$123K	102	None ✓
Midland, TX	$68K	$92K	$122K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$68K	$92K	$122K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$68K	$92K	$122K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$68K	$92K	$122K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$68K	$92K	$122K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$67K	$91K	$120K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$67K	$91K	$120K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$67K	$91K	$120K	90	4.95%
Cincinnati, OH	$67K	$91K	$120K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$67K	$91K	$120K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$67K	$91K	$120K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$67K	$91K	$120K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$67K	$91K	$120K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$67K	$91K	$120K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$67K	$91K	$120K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$67K	$90K	$119K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$67K	$90K	$119K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$67K	$90K	$119K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$67K	$90K	$119K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$67K	$90K	$119K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$65K	$89K	$117K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$64K	$87K	$115K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$64K	$87K	$115K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$64K	$87K	$115K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$64K	$87K	$115K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$64K	$87K	$115K	95	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$64K	$87K	$115K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$64K	$87K	$115K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$64K	$87K	$115K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$64K	$87K	$115K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$64K	$87K	$115K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$64K	$87K	$115K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$64K	$87K	$115K	85	5%
Mobile, AL	$64K	$87K	$115K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$64K	$87K	$115K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$64K	$87K	$115K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$64K	$87K	$115K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$63K	$86K	$113K	82	3.99%
Akron, OH	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$63K	$86K	$113K	90	4.25%
Erie, PA	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$63K	$86K	$113K	92	6%
Omaha, NE	$63K	$86K	$113K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$64K	$86K	$114K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$63K	$85K	$112K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$63K	$85K	$112K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$63K	$85K	$112K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$63K	$85K	$112K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$63K	$85K	$112K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$63K	$85K	$112K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$62K	$84K	$110K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$62K	$84K	$110K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$62K	$84K	$110K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$62K	$84K	$110K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$62K	$84K	$110K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$62K	$84K	$110K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$62K	$84K	$110K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$62K	$84K	$110K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$62K	$84K	$110K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$60K	$81K	$106K	84	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$60K	$81K	$106K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$60K	$81K	$106K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$57K	$78K	$103K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$57K	$78K	$103K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$56K	$76K	$100K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$53K	$71K	$94K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $95K QA Engineer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

QA Engineer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a QA Engineer is $95,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $70,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $125,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of QA Engineers nationally earn $158,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in CS or related. This role is 68% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

QA Engineer compensation is growing at 3% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

QA Engineer salary FAQ

How much does a QA Engineer make?

The median QA Engineer salary in the US is $95,000 per year — about $46/hour. Most earn between $70,000 (25th percentile) and $125,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a QA Engineer?

Entry-level QA Engineer positions typically start around $70,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid QA Engineers earn?

The top 10% of QA Engineers earn $158,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays QA Engineers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median QA Engineer salary at $157K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are QA Engineer salaries going up?

Yes — QA Engineer pay is growing about 3% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

QA Engineer Salaryby City (2026)