Design and execute test plans to ensure software quality and reliability. Median salary in Chesapeake: $93K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Chesapeake, Virginia. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
QA Engineers in Chesapeake earn approximately 2% lower than the US national median for this role — a $2,000 discount on annual base salary. Chesapeake's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 98 (US avg = 100).
This role is 68% remote-eligible nationally according to job-posting analysis, which significantly expands the job market for Chesapeake-based QA Engineers. Many Chesapeake professionals in this role are paid on the locality scale of their employer's HQ rather than Chesapeake's local rate — verify which scale your offer references before negotiating.
Average 1-bedroom rent in Chesapeake ($1,400/mo) consumes approximately 28% of an after-tax median QA Engineer salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($123K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $93K by 2030.
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The median QA Engineer salary in Chesapeake, VA is $93,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Chesapeake–VA metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level QA Engineers in Chesapeake with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $69,000 and $93,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $93,000 to $123,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $123,000 to $155,000 or more.
Chesapeake has a cost of living index of 98 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 2% further in Chesapeake than the national average. Virginia has a 5.75% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in CS or related. This role is 68% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Chesapeake-based professionals.