Engineering25% remote-eligible+3% YoY growth

Quality Engineer Salary
by City (2026)

Develop quality management systems and processes to ensure products meet specifications. National median: $88K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$88K

Top 10% earn

$148K

Entry level

$65K

Salary growth

+3%/yr

Quality Engineer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$94K	$128K	$167K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$92K	$125K	$163K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$87K	$118K	$154K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$86K	$117K	$153K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$86K	$117K	$153K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$86K	$116K	$152K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$86K	$116K	$152K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$84K	$114K	$148K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$83K	$113K	$147K	172	9.3%
Boston, MA	$83K	$113K	$147K	162	5%
Los Angeles, CA	$81K	$110K	$144K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$81K	$110K	$144K	165	6.85%
Seattle, WA	$81K	$110K	$144K	150	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$81K	$110K	$144K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$81K	$110K	$144K	162	10.75%
Bethesda, MD	$81K	$110K	$144K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$81K	$109K	$143K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$80K	$108K	$141K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$79K	$107K	$140K	148	9.3%
Newark, NJ	$79K	$107K	$140K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$79K	$107K	$140K	155	11%
Anaheim, CA	$77K	$105K	$137K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$78K	$105K	$138K	150	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$77K	$105K	$137K	148	5.75%
Houston, TX	$77K	$104K	$136K	91	None ✓
Long Beach, CA	$77K	$104K	$136K	155	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$76K	$103K	$135K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$76K	$103K	$135K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$75K	$102K	$133K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$75K	$101K	$132K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$75K	$101K	$132K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$75K	$101K	$132K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$75K	$101K	$132K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$73K	$99K	$129K	110	None ✓
Denver, CO	$73K	$99K	$129K	118	4.55%
Worcester, MA	$73K	$99K	$129K	120	5%
Portland, OR	$73K	$99K	$129K	130	9.9%
Honolulu, HI	$73K	$99K	$129K	192	11%
Anchorage, AK	$73K	$99K	$129K	128	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$72K	$97K	$127K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$72K	$97K	$127K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$72K	$97K	$127K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$72K	$97K	$127K	128	None ✓
Baltimore, MD	$72K	$97K	$127K	115	5.75%
New Haven, CT	$71K	$96K	$125K	122	6.99%
Fort Worth, TX	$70K	$95K	$124K	93	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$70K	$95K	$124K	118	2.5%
Philadelphia, PA	$70K	$95K	$124K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$70K	$95K	$124K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$70K	$95K	$124K	105	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$70K	$95K	$124K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$70K	$95K	$124K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$70K	$94K	$123K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$70K	$94K	$123K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$70K	$94K	$123K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$70K	$94K	$123K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$70K	$94K	$123K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$70K	$94K	$123K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$70K	$94K	$123K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$70K	$94K	$123K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$70K	$94K	$123K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$70K	$94K	$123K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$69K	$93K	$122K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$69K	$93K	$122K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$69K	$93K	$122K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$69K	$93K	$122K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$69K	$93K	$122K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$69K	$93K	$122K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$69K	$93K	$122K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$69K	$93K	$122K	115	5.99%
Arlington, TX	$68K	$92K	$121K	94	None ✓
Irving, TX	$68K	$92K	$121K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$68K	$92K	$121K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$68K	$92K	$121K	123	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$68K	$92K	$121K	112	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$68K	$92K	$121K	105	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$68K	$92K	$121K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$68K	$92K	$121K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$68K	$92K	$121K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$68K	$92K	$121K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$68K	$92K	$121K	100	4.75%
Cary, NC	$68K	$92K	$121K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$68K	$92K	$121K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$68K	$92K	$120K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$68K	$92K	$121K	100	4.85%
Huntsville, AL	$68K	$92K	$121K	88	5%
Round Rock, TX	$67K	$91K	$119K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$67K	$91K	$119K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$67K	$91K	$119K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$67K	$91K	$119K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$67K	$91K	$119K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$67K	$91K	$119K	108	6.6%
Garland, TX	$66K	$90K	$117K	91	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$67K	$90K	$118K	105	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$66K	$90K	$117K	118	None ✓
Springfield, MA	$67K	$90K	$118K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$67K	$90K	$118K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$67K	$90K	$118K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$67K	$90K	$118K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$66K	$89K	$116K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$66K	$89K	$116K	102	6.75%
San Antonio, TX	$65K	$88K	$115K	87	None ✓
Denton, TX	$65K	$88K	$116K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$65K	$88K	$116K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$65K	$88K	$115K	98	6.85%
Tampa, FL	$65K	$88K	$115K	102	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$65K	$88K	$115K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$65K	$88K	$116K	100	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$65K	$88K	$115K	100	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$65K	$88K	$116K	100	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$65K	$88K	$115K	102	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$65K	$88K	$115K	100	4.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$65K	$88K	$115K	98	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$65K	$88K	$115K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$65K	$88K	$115K	102	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$65K	$88K	$115K	82	4.25%
Pittsburgh, PA	$65K	$88K	$115K	90	3.07%
Rochester, MN	$65K	$88K	$116K	100	6.8%
Reno, NV	$65K	$88K	$115K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$65K	$88K	$115K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$65K	$88K	$115K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$65K	$88K	$116K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$65K	$88K	$115K	98	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$65K	$88K	$116K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$65K	$88K	$115K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$65K	$88K	$115K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$65K	$88K	$115K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$65K	$88K	$116K	100	6.6%
Bakersfield, CA	$64K	$87K	$113K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$64K	$87K	$113K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$64K	$87K	$113K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$64K	$87K	$113K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$64K	$87K	$113K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$64K	$87K	$113K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$64K	$87K	$113K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$63K	$86K	$112K	92	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$64K	$86K	$113K	100	None ✓
Athens, GA	$63K	$86K	$112K	92	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$64K	$86K	$113K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$64K	$86K	$113K	102	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$63K	$86K	$112K	92	6.8%
Charleston, SC	$64K	$86K	$113K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$63K	$86K	$112K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$63K	$86K	$112K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$63K	$85K	$111K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$63K	$85K	$111K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$63K	$85K	$111K	90	4.95%
Sterling Heights, MI	$63K	$85K	$111K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$63K	$85K	$111K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$63K	$85K	$111K	90	2.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$62K	$84K	$109K	84	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$62K	$84K	$109K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$62K	$84K	$109K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$62K	$84K	$109K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$62K	$84K	$110K	105	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$62K	$84K	$110K	98	2.5%
Greensboro, NC	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$62K	$84K	$110K	90	3.99%
Cincinnati, OH	$62K	$84K	$109K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$62K	$84K	$109K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$62K	$84K	$110K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$62K	$84K	$109K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$62K	$84K	$110K	90	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$62K	$84K	$110K	102	None ✓
Lexington, KY	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$62K	$84K	$109K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$62K	$84K	$109K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$62K	$84K	$109K	88	6%
Great Falls, MT	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$62K	$84K	$110K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$62K	$83K	$109K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$61K	$82K	$108K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$61K	$82K	$108K	82	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	4.95%
Pueblo, CO	$61K	$82K	$108K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$61K	$82K	$108K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$61K	$82K	$108K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$61K	$82K	$108K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$61K	$82K	$108K	82	None ✓
Akron, OH	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$61K	$82K	$108K	82	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$61K	$82K	$108K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$61K	$82K	$108K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$61K	$82K	$108K	82	4.82%
Las Cruces, NM	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$60K	$82K	$107K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$60K	$81K	$106K	78	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$60K	$81K	$106K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$60K	$81K	$106K	95	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$60K	$81K	$106K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$60K	$81K	$106K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$60K	$81K	$106K	78	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$60K	$81K	$106K	85	5%
Tulsa, OK	$60K	$81K	$106K	80	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$60K	$81K	$106K	78	6%
Wichita, KS	$60K	$81K	$106K	82	5.7%
Albuquerque, NM	$60K	$81K	$106K	88	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$60K	$81K	$106K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$60K	$81K	$106K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$59K	$80K	$105K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$59K	$80K	$105K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$59K	$80K	$105K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$59K	$79K	$104K	82	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$59K	$79K	$104K	92	5.75%
Knoxville, TN	$59K	$79K	$104K	85	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$59K	$79K	$104K	82	3.99%
Birmingham, AL	$59K	$79K	$104K	82	5%
Des Moines, IA	$59K	$79K	$104K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$59K	$79K	$104K	88	5.84%
Lubbock, TX	$57K	$77K	$101K	78	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$57K	$77K	$101K	90	2.5%
Memphis, TN	$57K	$77K	$101K	82	None ✓
Columbia, SC	$57K	$77K	$101K	88	6.5%
Little Rock, AR	$55K	$75K	$98K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$53K	$72K	$94K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $88K Quality 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 →

Quality Engineer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Quality Engineer is $88,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $65,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $115,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Quality Engineers nationally earn $148,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Engineering; Six Sigma, ASQ certifications. This role is 25% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

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

Quality Engineer salary FAQ

How much does a Quality Engineer make?

The median Quality Engineer salary in the US is $88,000 per year — about $42/hour. Most earn between $65,000 (25th percentile) and $115,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Quality Engineer?

Entry-level Quality Engineer positions typically start around $65,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Quality Engineers earn?

The top 10% of Quality Engineers earn $148,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Quality Engineers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Quality Engineer salary at $128K 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 Quality Engineer salaries going up?

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

Quality Engineer Salaryby City (2026)